A significant debate on the role of dual nationals in public service has intensified following revelations that over 2,300 civil servants, or their spouses, and 118 electoral contenders from a recent general election hold foreign citizenship, prompting calls for legislative reform.
According to a report by Free and Fair Election Network today, the matter has drawn the attention of lawmakers, with proposals currently pending in both the Senate and the National Assembly to amend the Civil Servants Act, 1973. These initiatives aim to restrict dual nationals from holding positions in government service.
According to a 2025 report by the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, a total of 2,365 government employees and/or their spouses were identified as possessing dual nationality, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest within the state bureaucracy.
The issue also emerged prominently during the 2018 General Election. A report submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency to the Election Commission of Pakistan found that 118 candidates were in possession of foreign passports. This group was dominated by individuals holding United Kingdom (57), United States (26), and Canadian (23) passports.
While the exact number of Pakistani dual nationals is difficult to ascertain due to the absence of a consolidated government database, media reports estimate the figure to be over four million. Many of these individuals reside and work within Pakistan, actively participating in professional and political life.
Pakistan has legally permitted dual nationality since a 1972 amendment to the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951. The law provides an exception allowing Pakistanis to acquire the nationality of countries specified by the Federal Government.
Under this provision, Pakistan maintains dual nationality arrangements with 22 countries. These include 14 European nations such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany; the United States and Canada; Australia and New Zealand; and four Middle Eastern states including Egypt and Jordan. Pakistani citizens holding a secondary nationality from these countries are eligible for a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).
Despite its legal recognition under specific arrangements, the implications of dual citizenship for political participation and public office continue to be a central topic in the nation’s policy and legislative discourse.