More than 21,000 Pakistanis are currently locked up abroad, and many are imprisoned simply because they can’t afford to pay fines, according to a new report by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis.
The data, shared with ProPakistani, reveals that 21,406 Pakistani nationals are jailed in 61 countries. However, the number may be higher, as 14 embassies have yet to provide full reports.
The top three countries with the highest number of Pakistani prisoners are:
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Saudi Arabia: 10,423
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United Arab Emirates: 5,297
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Turkey: 1,437
In India, 738 Pakistanis are detained. Other significant numbers were reported in Oman (578), Malaysia (463), Qatar (422), and Sri Lanka (112).
Smaller figures came from South Africa (75), Afghanistan (85), United States (65) — including Dr. Aafia Siddiqui — UK (23), Australia (27), and Spain (42).
A few countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Morocco, Myanmar, New Zealand, and Singapore, reported zero Pakistani prisoners.
France declined to share data, citing local privacy regulations, while Japan has 16 prisoners, but withheld details about six.
The report underscores a pressing issue: many Pakistanis abroad are imprisoned not for major crimes, but due to their inability to pay legal fines, especially in Gulf countries. Advocacy groups are now urging the government to provide legal and financial support to such individuals.