Five young men from Mandi Bahauddin district in Punjab have gone missing while attempting to reach Spain through an irregular migration route, according to information shared by their families. The men reportedly travelled from Mauritania towards Spain by boat in 2025 in search of better employment opportunities. Their whereabouts have remained unconfirmed, leaving their families anxious for information about their safety.
The missing men have been identified as Muneeb, from Bheki Mor; Zahid and Owais, from Kadhar; Imran, from Ahdi; and Ashraf, from Dherika. According to the information provided, they are between 25 and 35 years old.
Anwar, the father of one of the missing men, told journalist Zaheer Sial that the five men had left Mandi Bahauddin in 2024. They travelled first to Lahore and then to Karachi before proceeding to Senegal on visit visas. From there, they reportedly travelled to Mauritania and attempted to cross the sea towards Spain.
Anwar said his last telephone conversation with his son took place before the young man was expected to begin the sea journey to Spain. The father of another missing man reportedly said that the families had last been in contact with their loved ones around a year and a half ago. Since then, they have received no verified information confirming the men’s whereabouts.
The families have alleged that they paid a local human smuggler between Rs2.5 million and Rs3 million per person to arrange the journey. They further claim that the agent, reportedly from the Phalia tehsil area of Mandi Bahauddin district, has since disappeared. These allegations have not been independently verified in the information provided.
According to the report, the Pakistani Embassy in Greece recently shared data and photographs of the missing men. Their families continue to seek reliable information and hope for their safe return. The case highlights the risks associated with dangerous migration routes, including sea crossings, and the uncertainty faced by families when people disappear during such journeys.
Five Men from Mandi Bahauddin Missing While Attempting to Reach Spain by Sea
