More than 21,600 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned in foreign jails, according to a written statement submitted by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in the National Assembly.
The minister confirmed that Pakistanis in foreign jails face charges ranging from immigration violations to drug offences, while thousands await trial in different countries.
Ishaq Dar told lawmakers that 738 Pakistanis are being held in India, but Indian authorities have not shared details about the charges against them.
He added that Saudi Arabia has the highest number, where 10,745 Pakistanis are detained, mostly for illegal border crossing and drug-related cases. Many of them are serving sentences, while others are still on trial.
The foreign minister also reported that the United States currently holds 141 Pakistani nationals in various legal cases.
According to the government’s data, 5,297 Pakistanis are jailed in the United Arab Emirates, though no information has been provided on the nature of their alleged offences.
In China, 652 Pakistanis are facing trial, mostly for drug trafficking, fake currency, fraud and immigration violations.
Other countries detaining Pakistani nationals include Qatar with 599 prisoners, Oman with 578, Malaysia with 444, Italy with 353, Bahrain with 218, Turkiye with 190 and Afghanistan with 91 detainees.
The parliament was further informed that 13,078 Pakistanis are under trial abroad, while 8,569 have already been convicted in foreign courts.
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