It has been reported that more than 20,000 Pakistanis are currently incarcerated in 88 countries around the world. During a session of the National Assembly, it was disclosed that 68 of these individuals are on death row.
The offenses for which these Pakistani nationals have been imprisoned range from terrorism to murder and drug trafficking. The largest numbers of these prisoners are held in the UAE, where 5,292 are detained, and Saudi Arabia, which holds 10,432. Additionally, 463 Pakistanis are incarcerated in Malaysia.
Moreover, Pakistani citizens are also imprisoned in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Oman, Turkey, Bahrain, Greece, China, Germany, Iraq, the United States, Sri Lanka, Spain, Afghanistan, South Africa, and France.
The detailed country-wise list of Pakistani nationals who are imprisoned abroad was also shared in the session.
- UAE: 5,292
- Saudi Arabia: 10,432
- Malaysia: 463
- UK: 321
- Oman: 578
- Turkey: 387
- Bahrain: 371
- Greece: 598
- China: 406
- Germany: 90
- Iraq: 40
- USA: 114
- Sri Lanka: 89
- Spain: 92
- Afghanistan: 85
- South Africa: 48
- France: 186
Earlier today, Ehsan Ul Haq Bajwa, the Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Pakistanis, informed the National Assembly that the government had dispatched 860,000 Pakistanis abroad for employment in 2023.
He mentioned that if any Pakistani is caught begging abroad, strict measures will be taken under the 1979 Ordinance. Such cases will be forwarded to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further investigation and legal action.
