A total of 21,647 Pakistanis are imprisoned in 72 countries around the world, according to a written reply submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the National Assembly.
The figures were presented during Question Hour, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar informing the house that the United Arab Emirates had the highest number of Pakistani prisoners, with 5,297 held in its jails.
Saudi Arabia ranked second, with 4,775 Pakistani nationals imprisoned in various jails across the country, according to the written response.
A total of 738 Pakistanis are being held in different prisons in India, the reply said.
The figures were provided in response to a question in the National Assembly about Pakistani citizens imprisoned abroad.