21,647 Pakistanis imprisoned across 61 countries, Senate committee told

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights was told that 21,647 Pakistanis are imprisoned across 61 countries.

The additional secretary of the Ministry of Interior informed the committee that a neighbouring country had illegally issued passports by breaching Pakistan’s system.

He said that possibilities of corruption cannot be ruled out, and errors may also exist within Pakistan’s own systems.

Committee Chairperson Samina Mumtaz expressed deep concern over the growing threats of human smuggling.

She said that due to a lack of public awareness, many people are unaware of the dangerous consequences of travelling abroad through illegal channels.

She noted that the absence of awareness banners at airports is a serious oversight. She highlighted that groups involved in human smuggling operate within the country, luring young people under false pretences and sending them abroad.

Many unsuspecting individuals are also exploited in crimes such as fake degrees, bogus courses, and drug smuggling.

Samina Mumtaz demanded a detailed briefing for the committee regarding the updated number of Pakistanis imprisoned in Iran following strict sentences there, as well as awareness campaigns conducted by the government.

The interior secretary told the committee that a few months ago, a large number of Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia, including several Afghan nationals residing there with Pakistani identities.

He said that now digital records exist for 180–200 million Pakistanis, making identity verification immediately possible. He further explained that the majority of Pakistanis arrested abroad are involved in minor offences such as overstaying visas, identity fraud, or bank fraud, while involvement in serious crimes like murder, terrorism, or organised crime is minimal.

According to the secretary, following the rise in human smuggling incidents, visits to various countries were conducted on the Prime Minister’s instructions.

He noted that organised human smuggling networks have been exposed in several districts of Punjab, including Gujrat, Wazirabad, Sheikhupura, and Lahore, with their operatives also active in Dubai and other Middle Eastern countries.

He said human smugglers charge between 4.3 million and 5 million rupees under the pretext of sending innocent youth to Europe, putting them on dangerous and illegal routes. Many Pakistanis are subjected to forced labour and inhumane conditions for six to eight months — a deeply worrying and serious situation.