Key Takeaways
- At least 335 Pakistanis have lost their lives attempting illegal migration routes to Europe.
- Seven major boat disasters involving Pakistani migrants were recorded by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) since June 2023.
- The deadliest incident occurred in June 2023, with 207 Pakistanis killed when a boat sank en route to Greece.
At least 335 Pakistani nationals have perished while attempting illegal migration routes to Europe over the past four years, according to data compiled by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The FIA has documented seven significant boat disasters since June 2023, highlighting the perilous nature of these journeys. The deadliest incident occurred in June 2023 when a boat carrying 226 Pakistani migrants sank while en route to Greece; only 19 people survived.
Another tragic event took place in December 2024, where out of 69 Pakistanis on board, 25 died and 44 were rescued. In January 2025, a migrant boat carrying 70 Pakistanis capsized near Morocco, while a separate incident off the coast of Libya in February 2025 involved 40 identified Pakistani migrants; 23 died, and 13 survived.
FIA records further show that three major boat disasters linked to illegal migration from Libya occurred during 2025-26. These incidents claimed the lives of 48 Pakistanis while only 30 were rescued. The deadliest of these was in April 2025, involving 19 deaths and 17 survivors.
The FIA data also indicates that a boat disaster off the coast of Libya in October 2025 resulted in 16 fatalities and 14 survivors, while another incident in April 2026 claimed three lives with nine people rescued.
These incidents underscore the high risk associated with illegal migration routes to Europe. The FIA continues to monitor these dangerous journeys and has recorded a total of seven major boat disasters since June 2023.
