Islamabad: The Senate was briefed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that 7,208 Pakistani prisoners have been released from Saudi jails since the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan in 2019.
Detailed statistics on the number of Pakistani nationals incarcerated abroad were also presented. According to the Ministry, a total of 23,456 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned in various countries worldwide, with the majority held in Gulf countries.
The Ministry outlined year-by-year details of prisoner releases following the Saudi Crown Prince's visit:
2019: 545 prisoners released
2020: 892 prisoners released
2021: 916 prisoners released
2022: 1,331 prisoners released
2023: 1,394 prisoners released
2024: 2,130 prisoners released
The Ministry noted challenges in accurately determining the number of prisoners benefiting from clemency due to the continuous inflow and deportation of prisoners.
The report also highlighted that a significant number of Pakistanis are incarcerated in foreign jails, with Saudi Arabia leading the list. Key figures include:
Saudi Arabia: 12,156 prisoners
United Arab Emirates: 5,292 prisoners
Greece: 811 prisoners
Qatar: 338 prisoners
The Ministry emphasized ongoing efforts to assist Pakistani prisoners abroad and to facilitate their release where possible.
