ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Federal Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Saturday told National Assembly that 3,614 Pakistanis were imprisoned in the US, UK and Saudi Arab.

Replying to a question raised by MNA Begum Hasnian, the minister said 2,981 Pakistani were detained in Saudi Arab jails on various charges, including illegal overstay on Umrah visa, drug smuggling, forged documents, violations of traffic rules, non-observance of Islamic tenets, theft, absconding from work, murder or attempt to murder.

Pakistani mission in Riyadh and Jeddah maintain a close liaison with the relevant authorities of SA for the release of prisoners on case-to-case basis.

Each accused prisoner is given full opportunity of self- defence before the Qazi Courts as per Sharia Law. Services of lawyer as well as translators were also provided by the host government and Pakistani mission.

Pakistani mission regularly undertake visits to various jails and deportation centres to explore opportunities for their release. Additional visits are also conducted whenever such requests are received form the host authorities. Our mission also request SA government for revision of punishment, if sufficient grounds exist for such pleas.

In some cases, requests are submitted to the government of the provinces for early release of Pakistani nationals.

In US jails, 190 Pakistanis are imprisoned and most of them were held for overstay or violations of immigrations laws.

He said government had been coordinating through its embassy in Washington and its consulates in the US with lawyers to provide the detainees all necessary documentation. If a Pakistani could not afford to hire a lawyer, he was extended limited financial support for the purpose.

If the detainees or their family members request for early or voluntary deportation, government of Pakistan intervenes with the US Department of Homeland security for their early departure. In cases of overstay, the embassy provides assistance to those who wish to pursue their case up to end, he said.

The minister said the whole process of deportation and repatriation was closely coordinated by Pakistan embassy and consulates. An officer is assigned to meet each and every Pakistani deportee to ascertain the facts of the case. All possible help is extended to ensure that their legal rights have been safeguarded. After this has been established, the embassy extends full assistance in issuance of requisite travel documents.

According to National Offender Management Service (NOMS), 433 Pakistanis, mostly dual nationals are detained in various jails of UK. NOMS office did not give details of individual prisoners in the absence of a bilateral agreement between UK and Pakistan.

Replying to a question raised by MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid said the Pakistan Railway suffered a loss of Rs10504.308 million during the year of 2005-06, however, the figures were tentative as the accounts had not yet been finalised.

Replying to supplementary question, the minister said that it was time that the railways had been suffering from loss but in the last three months it had earned a profit of Rs440 million.

He said the railways collected huge amount as fine form ticketless travellers.

The system of separate compartment for women and children was being revived, he said adding that the ministry was planning to run 14 cargo trains in the next one year.

Replying a question raised by MNA Fauzia Whahab, federal minister for health Mohammad Nasir Khan said Asian Development Bank released Rs702 million for the women health project during the last two years.