Lawmaker says in touch with Saudi authorities for release of remaining prisoners

A general view of Ha'ir Prison in Saudi Arabia. (AFP/File)

• Chairman of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis confirmed the release of 579 prisoners
• Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promised to release 2,100 Pakistani during his visit to Islamabad in February

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis Sheikh Fayyaz-ud-Din told Arab News on Friday that the government was in touch with the relevant Saudi authorities for the release of Pakistani prisoners in the Kingdom.
He also confirmed the release of 579 Pakistani prisoners this year, adding it was in line with an announcement made by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Pakistan in February 2019.
“The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis shared the details of 579 released prisoners from Saudi jails with the standing committee,” he told Arab News.
Fayyaz-ud-Din said most of those released from Saudi prisons were involved in minor misdemeanors in the Kingdom. Some of them were also involved in drug-related crimes.
“Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promised to release about 2,100 Pakistani prisoners jailed in Saudi Arabia and we hope that the remaining inmates will also be released soon,” he said.
Last month, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, told Arab News in an interview that 579 Pakistani prisoners were released this year after the crown prince’s visit to Islamabad.
According to an official estimate, there are about 3,400 Pakistani prisoners in Saudi jails, and Prime Minister Imran Khan requested the release of these inmates during the high profile visit of the Saudi Crown Prince.
Saudi Arabia is home to around 2.6 million Pakistani expats who constitute a vital source of foreign remittances to Pakistan.
Last year, the country received $21.8 billion in remittances out of which $5 billion were remitted by Pakistani nationals working in the Kingdom.