A total of 21,647 Pakistani citizens are reportedly held in prisons across 72 countries, according to figures attributed to Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in a written reply to the National Assembly.
The figures, reported on October 19, 2026, cover Pakistanis at different stages of criminal proceedings overseas.
The reported total includes 8,569 people who have been sentenced, while more than 13,000 are facing trial, according to news reports citing the parliamentary response.
UAE and Saudi Arabia Figures Need Clarification
The reports identify the United Arab Emirates as a country holding a large number of Pakistani prisoners, with 5,297 people listed in the figures supplied to the National Assembly.
The same reports put the number held in Saudi Arabia at 4,775 and the number in Indian prisons at 738.
However, the published country breakdown is not consistent across news outlets. A Dunya News report gives the total as 21,647 but lists 71 countries and reports 10,745 Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia.
The original written reply was not available for independent verification in the sources reviewed.
The country totals should therefore be checked against the parliamentary document before being treated as definitive.
Thousands Have Been Sentenced or Remain on Trial
According to the figures reported in connection with the National Assembly response, 8,569 Pakistanis have received sentences, while more than 13,000 remain involved in ongoing proceedings.
Reported charges include drug trafficking, fraud, human trafficking and the use of forged documents.
The available reporting does not provide a complete breakdown showing how many people face each charge or how the cases are distributed across all the countries listed.
A person facing trial should not be treated as convicted. The figures cover people at different stages of the legal process, and individual circumstances depend on the relevant country’s laws and court proceedings.
Consular Assistance for Pakistani Prisoners Abroad
Pakistan’s diplomatic missions have a role in assisting citizens detained overseas. Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations provides a framework for communication between consular officials and detained nationals, subject to the convention’s provisions and the laws of the receiving state.
In an official Senate record, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described Pakistan’s consular assistance for citizens in foreign detention, including prison visits, communication with detainees and help arranging legal representation.
The record also referred to assistance with repatriation and financial support where possible.
The reported number of Pakistani prisoners abroad highlights the importance of reliable country-level data and access to consular support.
A full assessment would require the original parliamentary reply, a verified country-by-country breakdown and clearer information about convictions, pending cases and the assistance available to detainees.
