More than 23,000 Pakistanis are languishing in jails abroad, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Thursday.
During question hour in the National Assembly, Dar said 23,456 Pakistani nationals are currently imprisoned in various countries worldwide with the largest number in Saudi Arabia (12,156) and UAE (5,292).
However, comprehensive gender-wise data is being compiled by our diplomatic missions in cooperation with the foreign authorities, he said.
Our diplomatic missions maintain essential information about detained Pakistani nationals within their respective jurisdictions to provide necessary consular assistance, Dar said.
He further explained that Pakistan has implemented a comprehensive strategy to support Pakistani nationals imprisoned abroad, particularly focusing on those detained for minor or non-criminal offenses.
More than 7,000 Pakistani prisoners were released from Saudi prisons between 2019 and 2024, Dar shared in a Senate meeting in January.
In 2019, former Prime Minister Imran Khan raised the issue of the release of Pakistani prisoners during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan.
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