Pakistan says human smugglers exploiting Umrah journeys amid evolving routes to Europe

[Pakistan Warns of Surge in Smuggling Exploiting Umrah Pilgrimages for Europe Routes]

KARACHI: Pakistani officials report that human smugglers are increasingly taking advantage of Umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia to create new illegal migration channels toward Europe. Authorities have regularly intercepted groups that attempt to misuse religious travel arrangements for the purpose of crossing borders.

Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis travel annually to Saudi Arabia and other nations for religious pilgrimages, chiefly the Hajj and Umrah. Previous statements from Pakistani officials have indicated that some of these nationals fail to return to Pakistan after their visas expire.

Pakistan has long grappled with irregular migration, as smugglers lure vulnerable individuals with false promises of overseas employment and improved economic prospects, facilitating illegal journeys to Europe amid domestic poverty and high inflation.

A senior Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official stated that last week authorities intercepted passengers from southern and central Punjab who had intended to travel to Europe after entering Saudi Arabia under the guise of performing Umrah, a pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year.

Akbar, an FIA deputy director for immigration at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, noted, “Every week we intercept two to three groups attempting this.”

He added, “Umrah has become a new target because people perceive it as less strictly regulated with fewer inquiries.”

According to the official, smugglers are increasingly using a multi‑layered transit network rather than relying solely on traditional routes through Libya and other North African states.

He identified Egypt, Morocco and Cyprus as emerging nodes on suspected smuggling corridors leading to Europe, while also noting Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as transit points for onward movement.

In July, the FIA intercepted a Pakistani who had traveled to Saudi Arabia for an Umrah pilgrimage before proceeding through Egypt to Libya in an alleged attempt toward Italy. He had paid an illegal immigration agent roughly Rs4.3 million ($15,400) before being detained and deported by Libyan authorities.

Another case in July saw Islamabad airport immigration officials detain four passengers suspected of using Umrah visas to proceed to Europe via Azerbaijan and Serbia.

These operations involve organized criminal networks that extend beyond Pakistan, with smugglers and their agents coordinating visas, border clearance, and onward transport. Payments are often broken into installments, and migrants are sometimes unaware of their exact itinerary, especially when dangerous maritime crossings are involved, as reported by Akbar.

Smugglers also leverage social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to attract prospective migrants with fraudulent job offers promising high salaries and free accommodation. In some cases, victims are sent abroad on short‑term work visas under false employment pretexts and are subsequently detained while their families endure ransom demands.

Akbar maintained that the FIA is actively investigating suspected networks and lodging complaints for human trafficking on a near‑daily basis. He estimated that 15,000 to 16,000 passengers pass through Karachi International Airport each day, with roughly 10 to 15 individuals off‑loaded due to travel‑related issues.

When asked about off‑loading of passengers despite having valid documentation, Akbar explained that the agency is piloting a mobile application that enables travelers to assess potential documentation risks before departing, drawing on international screening practices and data from prior deportations.

He stated, “The FIA is developing an app that lets passengers evaluate their risk profile from home, incorporating international screening standards and insights from previous deportations.”

The FIA has not yet announced a launch date for the application, according to the official.

Meanwhile, travelers encountering documentation problems are referred to FIA facilitation centers to resolve paperwork and other requirements, ensuring that legitimate migraters are not needlessly barred from departing.

He also remarked, “The pre‑departure cell, recently filmed, is part of our ongoing effort to assist passengers and prevent obstacles at destination.”

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