Over 21,000 Pakistani Citizens Detained in Foreign Prisons, Government Reveals

**Islamabad:** A parliamentary response from the Foreign Minister has revealed that a significant number of Pakistani citizens are currently imprisoned in foreign countries.

In a written reply submitted to the National Assembly, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that **21,647 Pakistani citizens** are held in various prisons worldwide.

According to the data:

* **India:** 738 Pakistanis are imprisoned, though no details were provided regarding the nature of their alleged crimes.
* **Saudi Arabia:** 10,745 Pakistanis are incarcerated for various offenses; some are convicted while most cases are still under trial.
* **United Arab Emirates:** 5,297 Pakistanis are imprisoned, but specific information regarding their offenses is unavailable.
* **China:** 652 Pakistanis are imprisoned, mostly for drug trafficking, counterfeit currency, fraud, or illegal immigration.
* **Other countries:** Qatar (599), Oman (578), Malaysia (444), Italy (353), Bahrain (218), Turkey (190), the USA (141), and Afghanistan (91).

The Foreign Minister also noted that **13,078 cases involving Pakistani citizens abroad are still under trial**, while **8,569 Pakistanis have been convicted**.

This disclosure highlights the scale of overseas detentions of Pakistani nationals and underscores the need for consular support and diplomatic engagement.