One Of Pakistan’s Richest Men Missing On Titanic Sub Had Acquired Maltese Citizenship
Billionaire Shahzada Dawood, who is among the five individuals aboard a missing submersible vessel, has been identified as a Maltese citizen.
The five men were diving to visit the Titanic wreck off the North Atlantic coast of Canada when they failed to resurface.
The UK’s Companies House register also lists him as a Maltese national. Dawood, hailing from a prominent Pakistani family and serving as the vice-chairman of Engro Corporation, was exploring the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, with his 19-year-old son when the vessel, named Titan, disappeared.
Times of Malta reported that publicly available documents reveal that Dawood acquired Maltese citizenship in 2016, along with his parents and other family members.
A search and rescue operation involving the Canadian coast guard, US coast guard, and US Navy is currently underway. The Titan went missing at a depth that is challenging to reach, posing complications for the search efforts.
Time is of the essence as the vessel’s oxygen reserves are expected to deplete on Thursday afternoon. The circumstances surrounding Dawood’s Maltese citizenship suggest he may have obtained it through the Individual Investor Programme, which grants EU citizenship to wealthy investors.
Malta’s citizenship procedures have faced criticism, and the country is currently engaged in a legal battle to prevent the closure of the scheme.
Dawood, who resides in London with his family, has received widespread concern and support, with a plea for prayers from the Dawood family.
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