Islamabad, December 27,2024: The federal cabinet has mandated a minimum five-year stay in Pakistan as a requirement for acquiring Pakistani citizenship. During a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the cabinet made several key decisions.
According to sources within the federal cabinet, individuals seeking Pakistani citizenship must have resided in Pakistan for at least five years. The duration of stay in Pakistan as a refugee or diplomat will not be considered eligible for citizenship.
The decision was reportedly made in the context of addressing the legal status of Afghan women married to Pakistani men.Additionally, sources revealed that passports of individuals engaging in begging abroad will be confiscated, and they will face substantial fines. The federal cabinet also approved amendments to the laws governing passports and citizenship, according to cabinet sources.