The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented comprehensive data to the National Assembly detailing the release of Pakistani citizens from foreign prisons over the last year. More than 12,500 Pakistanis were freed from incarceration in various countries during this period.
Baghdad accounted for the highest number of releases, with 4,863 individuals regaining their freedom. This was followed by Jeddah, where 1,947 prisoners were released. Kuala Lumpur saw 1,650 releases, while Dubai accounted for 1,899 freed Pakistanis.
Additional figures include 863 releases in Riyadh, 371 in Muscat, and 93 in Moscow. Istanbul reported 30 releases, Harare 67, and New York 18. Smaller numbers were noted in Harris (91), Bangkok (16), and Ankara (125).
Meanwhile, officials informed the assembly that 21,480 Pakistani nationals remain incarcerated abroad. Saudi Arabia holds the largest number, with 10,745 prisoners, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 5,297.
Other countries with Pakistani prisoners include Malaysia (448), India (738), Greece (516), China (452), Bahrain (218), Germany (105), Iran (169), the United States (131), and Iraq (81). These figures highlight the widespread presence of Pakistani citizens serving sentences internationally.
