ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz informed the Senate on Tuesday that a total 78 ambassadors/high commissioners of Pakistan and 119 Pakistan Missions were posted in various countries.
Replying to a query during question hour, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also informed that total 241 officers of Foreign Services of Pakistan BPS-18 and above are working in Pakistan Missions abroad. Replying to a supplementary question, he said that “there is no quota in initial appointment and the posting tenure is three years.”
Responding to a question regarding Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arabia he said that there were a total 1021 Pakistani prisoners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Embassy officials visited jails in three regions as well as deportation centers where they issued emergency travel documents to 8421 Pakistan nationals in 2015 and 8525 Pakistan nationals in 2016 to facilitate their deportation to Pakistan, the advisors told the Senate.
He also informed that Pakistani mission in Saudi Arabia provided legal aid to detained Pakistanis in various charges. However, the decision on their release or punishment has to be taken by the courts under the Saudi laws.
