According to recent disclosures, more than 21,600 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned abroad, with the majority held in Gulf countries.
Data presented to a parliamentary committee shows that over 13,000 of these detainees are under trial, while more than 8,000 are convicted — many in cases related to smuggling and drug offences.
The largest number of imprisoned Pakistani nationals are in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, reflecting migration and labour patterns that expose many Pakistanis to foreign-legal systems.
Officials have stressed the need for enhanced consular protection, improved coordination between ministries, and formal mechanisms — such as prisoner-transfer agreements — to help repatriate eligible inmates and ensure their rights are upheld.