News Detail
Event Title: Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament House, Islamabad.
Event Date: 2025-08-11
The meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, under the chairmanship of Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, convened today in Islamabad to discuss the problems/issues facing by the under trial/ convicted overseas Pakistani community in different countries.
The meeting was attended by Senators Nasir Mehmood, Shahadat Awan, Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, Khalida Ateeb and Raja Nasir Abbas.
The Senate Committee was briefed on the compliance status of recommendations communicated during its previous meeting.
During the briefing, it was revealed that a total of 17,236 Pakistanis are currently detained in prisons across various countries, with the majority located in the Middle East. The Committee was further informed that 85 Pakistani prisoners are being held in Afghanistan; however, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs failed to provide details regarding the nature of crimes for which these individuals are detained.
Expressing serious displeasure over the non-provision of this critical information, the Committee directed the Ministry to furnish comprehensive data on all overseas Pakistanis convicted or under trial worldwide including the nature of their crimes within 15 days. It also directed the Ministry to submit a list of countries that have policies to inform Pakistani authorities about such cases, as well as those that withhold such information, for discussion in the next meeting.
The Chairman Committee directed the Ministry to expedite efforts to finalize Prisoner Transfer Agreements with various countries to facilitate the repatriation of innocent Pakistanis trapped in legal cases abroad. Senator Nasir Mehmood further recommended verification of the citizenship status of the 85 Pakistanis detained in Afghanistan.
Community Welfare Attachés (CWAs) from various postings briefed the Committee on the status of under-trial and convicted Pakistanis in their respective jurisdictions. The CWAs from Dubai, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur reported 3,523, 619, and 499 detainees respectively.
The Committee reviewed the functioning of CWAs and directed the Ministry to submit the evaluation procedures for assessing their performance, along with detailed information on all convicted and under-trial Pakistanis in each jurisdiction.
Senator Shahadat Awan raised concerns over the inadequate formatting and incomplete information provided in the working papers submitted by ministries. He stressed the need for presenting complete and accurate information in a professional manner before such a prestigious forum.
The Chairman Committee also observed a significant lack of coordination and data sharing between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Overseas Pakistanis. He emphasized the importance of improving inter-ministerial cooperation for the welfare of overseas citizens.
Senator Raja Nasir Abbas highlighted the illegal detention of his relative, Mr. Ghulam Hasnain, who had proceeded for Umrah, and urged the concerned authorities to resolve the matter on a priority basis. He also drew attention to the difficulties faced by Pakistanis traveling to Iraq, including passport confiscations and low wages for Pakistani workers.
The Chairman stressed the urgent need for the enactment of a Consular Protection Act to safeguard the rights of Pakistani prisoners abroad.
The Committee was also briefed on the performance and upcoming programs of the National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC). The Chairman appreciated NAVTTC’s efforts and directed the Commission to align its programs with international standards to enhance overseas employment opportunities for Pakistanis.