At least 2,722 individuals from the Asia-Pacific region, including 109 Pakistanis, lost their lives or went missing globally in 2025 while attempting illegal entry into other nations. This data, released by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under the ‘IOM Missing Migrants Project 2026’, highlights the dangers faced by migrants. The figures underscore the critical need to enhance protection for individuals undertaking such perilous journeys.
The statistics revealed that Afghanistan recorded the highest number of fatalities or disappearances during migration, with 1,540 individuals affected. Following closely were 935 nationals from Myanmar, while Pakistan ranked third with 109 citizens and Bangladesh with 80 individuals. The IOM cautioned that the actual death toll along these migration routes could be higher due to the secretive nature of irregular movements and challenges in tracking migrant fatalities, as reported by Dawn.
In a separate incident in March, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intervened at Multan International Airport, intercepting two passengers attempting to misuse Umrah visas to enter Europe. The passengers, Sikander Alam and Noor Islam, were initially bound for Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage. However, suspicions arose during routine checks, leading to a detailed inspection. It was discovered that the individuals possessed Moroccan visas and intended to travel to Spain instead of Saudi Arabia.
The FIA’s actions align with recent alerts issued by its headquarters regarding a surge in cases where individuals exploit Umrah visas to illegally enter Europe via Morocco. Following investigations, Alam and Islam were deboarded from the plane and transferred to the FIA Composite Circle in Multan for further scrutiny.
