Senator Faisal Vawda has announced he will personally contribute Rs5 million to help Pakistani prisoners abroad pay their fines. The announcement came during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada.

The committee expressed its displeasure at the online participation of the Overseas Secretary, demanding his physical presence. Briefing the committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials revealed that Pakistan has prisoner exchange agreements with 11 countries. The Community Welfare Attache in Saudi Arabia reported that while 4600 Pakistanis have returned home after completing their sentences, approximately 10,000 remain imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, including seven women in Riyadh.

Discrepancies in data emerged when Senator Shahadat Awan pointed out differences between the figures presented to the National Assembly and those presented to the committee. The Community Welfare Attache clarified that the majority of Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arabia are incarcerated for drug-related offenses.

The Overseas Secretary stated that the government does not cover the costs associated with prisoners convicted of personal crimes. The Riyadh-based Community Welfare Attache added that 19 individuals in Riyadh alone face fines totaling up to 10 lakh rupees.

Officials informed the committee that Rs5 million had already been collected to assist Pakistani prisoners with their fines. Senator Vawda, during his announcement, emphasized the need for detailed information about the prisoners and expressed his willingness to contribute between Rs2.5 to 5 million to help those convicted of minor offenses. He further pledged to assist orphans and widows affected by the situation.