Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar informed the National Assembly that over 10,000 Pakistani nationals are currently incarcerated in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, 10,279 Pakistanis are facing imprisonment in the kingdom on various charges. Dar reassured the house that there are no barriers preventing the repatriation of these detainees, as Saudi Arabia has agreed to transfer 570 prisoners back to Pakistan under an established prisoner transfer agreement.
During the parliamentary session, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Dar also addressed concerns about Pakistani citizens being involved in illegal activities, such as begging, forgery, drug trafficking, and political activities in some countries. He emphasized that both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior are collaborating to address these issues.
In response to questions about visa restrictions, the Foreign Ministry clarified that no Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country has imposed any limitations on issuing visas to Pakistani citizens. Additionally, no such instructions have been received from any GCC nation.
Dar explained that Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences but have expired passports are provided with emergency travel documents to facilitate their return to Pakistan. He also noted that the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia frequently assists in paying fines for those who have served their sentences.
In closing, Dar highlighted the agreement with Saudi Arabia to repatriate 570 prisoners, reinforcing that there are no obstacles to the return of these detainees to Pakistan. This marks a significant effort by the government to address the issue of Pakistani nationals imprisoned abroad and to ensure their safe repatriation.
