The number of Pakistanis jailed abroad stands at 21,647 across 72 countries, the Foreign Ministry told the National Assembly during Question Hour on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared the figures with the house. Of the 21,647 Pakistanis in foreign jails, 8,569 have been sentenced by foreign courts, while more than 13,000 are still facing trial.
The United Arab Emirates holds the largest number of Pakistani prisoners at 5,297, followed by Saudi Arabia with 4,775. Indian prisons hold 738 Pakistanis. The ministry did not release a country-by-country breakdown of the charges.
The charges against the prisoners include drug trafficking, fraud, human trafficking and forged documents. The ministry said consular access and legal assistance were being provided through Pakistan’s missions abroad.
Where Pakistanis jailed abroad are held
The Gulf states account for the bulk of the figure, which reflects the large Pakistani workforce in the region. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis work in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and consular cases there have long outnumbered those elsewhere.
The 738 Pakistanis in Indian prisons are a separate and sensitive category. Prisoner exchanges between the two countries have taken place periodically, but the process is slow and often stalled by poor bilateral relations.
One account of the same National Assembly session put the number of countries at 71 rather than 72. The discrepancy appears to be a reporting difference; the ministry’s figure of 21,647 prisoners was consistent across reports.
The human cost
Behind the numbers are families in Pakistan waiting on court dates in foreign legal systems. Many of the prisoners are the primary earners for their households, and a conviction abroad can mean years without income for dependents back home.
Drug trafficking cases carry the heaviest penalties. Saudi Arabia executed a Pakistani national for drug smuggling earlier this month after the kingdom’s Supreme Court upheld the sentence, a reminder of how severely Gulf states punish narcotics offences.
The Foreign Ministry’s consular wing handles thousands of such cases each year, from arrests and trials to repatriation of remains. The case of third engineer Muhammad Hammad Obaida, killed in an attack on a vessel off Oman, showed how long families can wait for closure when a Pakistani dies or is detained abroad.
What the government says it is doing
The ministry told the house that Pakistani missions provide consular access, legal aid and welfare support to detained nationals. Prisoners receive visits, and missions intervene with local authorities where possible.
Diplomatic engagement also continues on related fronts. Pakistan and Oman recently agreed on visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders, part of a broader effort to smooth consular relations with Gulf states.
Rights advocates say more needs to be done, particularly for prisoners facing the death penalty on drug charges and for those who cannot afford lawyers. They have called for a dedicated legal aid fund for Pakistanis on trial abroad.
Frequently asked questions
How many Pakistanis are jailed abroad?
The Foreign Ministry told the National Assembly that 21,647 Pakistanis are imprisoned in 72 countries. Of these, 8,569 have been sentenced and more than 13,000 are facing trial.
Which countries hold the most Pakistani prisoners?
The UAE holds 5,297, Saudi Arabia 4,775, and India 738, according to the ministry’s figures.
What are they charged with?
The charges include drug trafficking, fraud, human trafficking and forged documents. The ministry released no country-by-country breakdown of charges.
What help do they get?
The ministry says Pakistani missions provide consular access, legal assistance and welfare support to detained nationals.
