ISLAMABAD: As many as 23,456 Pakistanis are currently behind bars overseas, with the largest number of inmates, 12,156, being held in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the National Assembly.

During the lower house’s question hour, the ministry outlined the government’s efforts to secure consular access and facilitate the repatriation of prisoners. In a written reply, the ministry added that the United Arab Emirates holds the secondhighest number of Pakistani inmates, totalling 5,292.

In its response to queries about Pakistanis imprisoned worldwide, the ministry said that comprehensive gender-wise data was being compiled by diplomatic missions in cooperation with host authorities.

The mission maintained essential information about detained Pakistani nationals within their respective jurisdictions to provide necessary consular assistance.

Saudi Arabia has more than 12,000 prisoners, followed by UAE with over 5,000 inmates

Most of the 400 Pakistanis imprisoned in China were convicted of drug smuggling, rape, robbery, murder, and counterfeit currency cases. The 450 Pakistanis imprisoned in Bahrain were convicted of drug trafficking, possession of drugs and fraud. Afghanistan had convicted 88 Pakistanis of overstay and security-related offences.

In Qatar, 338 Pakistanis were sentenced for theft, murder, narcotics, money laundering, rape, and financial frauds. Oman convicted 309 in drug trafficking, murder, robbery, and sexual assault cases, and Malaysia convicted 255 Pakistanis for similar offences besides illegal entry.

Countries like Austria did not say how many of the 30 Pakistanis held for illegal entry, human and drug trafficking and murder, besides sexual harassment, were convicted. Norway did not share details of charges against three Pakistanis detained and Finland had convicted two Pakistanis but did not share details of the offences.

In Switzerland, one out of five prisoners had given consent to local authorities for consular access. He was convicted on charges of domestic abuse. One Pakistani was convicted in Georgia, however, authorities did not share details of the individual’s offence.

France and Germany had convicted 168 and 94 Pakistanis respectively, but local authorities did not provide details of offences, citing privacy laws.

Canada also declined to share details of offences against the nine Pakistanis imprisoned. Similarly, Denmark also did not share details of offences against 27 Pakistanis imprisoned due to stringent privacy laws. In Azerbaijan, 11 out of 16 prisoners were sentenced for murder, human and drug trafficking, illegal entry, while five were under trial. Likewise, in Turkiye, 147 prisoners were convicted and 161 were under trial for various offences, such as drug and human trafficking, sexual assault, and child abuse.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government had implemented a comprehensive strategy to support Pakistani nationals imprisoned abroad, particularly focusing on those detained for minor or non-criminal offences.

The ministry also claimed to provide regular consular visits to detention facilities, verification of detention conditions and treatment of prisoners, besides the supply of essential items where permissible under host country regulations.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2025