The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has pinpointed five primary irregular migration pathways—colloquially termed 'dunki' routes—used by Pakistani nationals to enter Europe, as part of its intensified crackdown on human smuggling and passenger offloading.
Key Statistics and EU Recognition
According to official FIA data, the agency offloaded approximately 40,000 passengers in 2025 through an 'intelligence-driven and risk-based approach' aimed at curbing human trafficking. This effort has received acknowledgment from the European Union. A report by Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency, indicates that illegal migration from Pakistan to the EU plummeted by 64% in January-February 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The report further notes a 26% decline in overall illegal migration toward Europe in 2025.
Transit Hubs and Emerging Routes
The FIA's Risk Analysis Unit has identified Cyprus, Central Asian states, and certain Eastern European countries as increasingly popular transit hubs for organized smuggling networks. An agency analysis reveals that Pakistani nationals often depart for Cyprus on study visas but then reroute to enter Europe. Similarly, Malawi and Swaziland are used to enter South Africa, though the FIA claims to have reduced illegal migration via this route to zero. Senegal and Mauritania serve as gateways to Spain's Canary Islands. Additionally, the EU has expressed serious concerns over illegal border crossings by Pakistanis from Belarus into Poland, an FIA official stated.
The Five Major 'Dunki' Routes
The FIA has categorized the following five primary routes:
- Route I (Pakistan-Egypt-Libya Route): Uses Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain as transit points.
- Route II (Pakistan-Egypt-Libya Route): Employs Azerbaijan and Malaysia as transit countries.
- Route III (Pakistan-Poland Route): Passes through Uzbekistan or Belarus.
- Route IV (Pakistan-Spain Route): Uses Mauritania, Senegal, and the Canary Islands as transit stops.
- Route V (Pakistan-Cambodia Route): Uses Thailand and Malaysia as transit countries before entering Europe.
Passenger Data and Risks
From 2024 to 2026, 24,922 Pakistanis traveled to Cambodia, of whom 3,312 did not return. These individuals are either working in scamming companies or subjected to bonded labor, according to FIA data. Of these, 80% traveled on visit or tourist visas. During the same period, 7,721 Pakistani passengers did not return from Azerbaijan, with 70% traveling on visit or tourist visas. Thousands of Pakistanis fall prey annually to organized criminal networks operating via illegal international land and sea routes, leading to financial ruin, captivity, bonded labor, and loss of life. Victims and their families also endure psychological trauma.
Repatriation Operations
In the current year, two major government-facilitated operations successfully repatriated over 200 Pakistani nationals from Libya. In February, a joint operation by Pakistan's mission abroad and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) rescued 30 Pakistanis from the Tajoura Detention Centre in Tripoli. A second large-scale repatriation in late May brought back 177 Pakistanis from detention facilities in Benghazi and Tripoli. Most returnees were intercepted by Libyan authorities before boarding dangerously overcrowded boats across the central Mediterranean.
Enhanced Screening and Prevention
Following the Greece boat tragedy of June 2023, in which several Pakistani migrants died in the Mediterranean Sea, the FIA has implemented strict immigration and enforcement measures through prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and intelligence-led passenger screening, the official said. The Risk Analysis Unit has developed five risk profiles to guide immigration officers in distinguishing suspected travelers from genuine passengers. According to FIA claims, the unit continuously monitors offloading trends for compliance with risk indicators and SOPs. Pre-departure facilitation desks have been set up at the agency's zonal offices to advise travelers on document deficiencies, aiming to prevent offloading or refusal abroad.
