Seven Pakistani citizens who were imprisoned in Saudi Arabia have been released and have returned to Pakistan.
The individuals detained in different prisons across Saudi Arabia arrived at Islamabad International Airport from Riyadh. Upon landing, they were taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further verification.
The released individuals are Jawad, Shakeel, Khanullah, Mehraab, Tariq, Shoaib, and Ehsan.
According to a report shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last year, over 23,000 Pakistanis are incarcerated in various countries. More than 15,000 have been convicted, while over 7,000 are still awaiting trial.
Saudi Arabia has the highest number of Pakistani prisoners, with 12,156 individuals behind bars. The United Arab Emirates follows with 5,292 Pakistani detainees.
Other countries where Pakistani nationals are imprisoned include India (706), the United Kingdom (330), and the United States (44). Authorities continue to work on diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Pakistani prisoners held in foreign jails.