A widespread post claims that under new rules, any foreign national can obtain Pakistani citizenship by investing just Rs5 million.
This claim is misleading and lacks important context.
On March 12, a user on X (formerly Twitter) posted: “Golden opportunity: Foreigners can now apply for Pakistani citizenship with an investment of SR 67,500 [$18,000 or Rs5 million].”
The post has been viewed over 300,000 times, reposted nearly 300 times, and liked over 500 times.
The same claim was repeated in other posts here and here.
Only citizens of Commonwealth countries can apply for Pakistani citizenship after remitting Rs5 million, and even then, approval is not guaranteed, an official confirms.
A senior official from the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports in Islamabad, speaking to Geo Fact Check on condition of anonymity, dismissed the online claims. He clarified that the provision applies only to citizens of the 56 Commonwealth nations across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific.
“There is a section 20 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951, which has been misinterpreted,” the official stated. “This provision allows Commonwealth citizens to apply for citizenship if they remit Rs5 million, but this does not apply to all foreign nationals.”
He further explained that even meeting the Rs5 million remittance requirement does not automatically grant citizenship. Each application must undergo a legal review and verification process before approval.
“There is no open policy allowing anyone to obtain Pakistani citizenship simply by making an investment,” he added.
Section 20 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951 states that the federal government may, upon such terms and conditions as it specifies, register a Commonwealth citizen or a British protected person as a citizen of Pakistan.
While the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports’ website confirms this eligibility criterion. Pakistani citizenship may be granted to foreign women married to Pakistani nationals, Commonwealth citizens who transfer Rs5 million in foreign exchange, individuals holding a naturalisation certificate, and minor children of Pakistani citizens.
Verdict: Misleading. Not all foreigners can apply for Pakistani citizenship by investing Rs5 million. This privilege is exclusive to Commonwealth citizens under Section 20 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951.
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