8,936 Pakistanis opt for foreign nationality between 2011 and 2015
ISLAMABAD: Immigration trends show that 8,936 Pakistani nationals preferred Germany, Norway, United States and India to their Pakistani citizenship between 2011 and 2015 while 215 Indians, Afghans, Bengalis and Americans renounced their native citizenships and opted for the Pakistani citizenship during the period.
According to a five-year (2011 to 2015) comparative data study of people immigrating in and out of Pakistan, a total of 12,291 people renounced their citizenship out of which 246 got the Pakistani citizenship, documents partially obtained from the federal government under the Right to Information (RTI) law and some of them through the Interior Ministry sources, reveal.
Germany remained the most favorite country for Pakistanis because of its strong economy and a safe environment. A total of 4,780 Pakistanis opted for the German nationality.
In 2015, 1,388 Pakistanis immigrated to Germany compared to 1,011 in 2013.
Likewise, 723 Pakistani nationals left for Germany in 2014, 815 in 2012 and 843 in year 2011. Statistics show that Germany remained the favourite choice for Pakistanis during the period.
Norway remained the second most favorite destination for Pakistanis. A total of 2,060 Pakistanis surrendered their nationality for this part of the world.
Around 478 Pakistanis moved to this Scandinavian country in 2011, 355 in 2012, 324 in 2013 and 587 in 2015.
Although Pakistan was in the list of Time magazine’s famous story of April 12, 2014 issue, titled “9 Countries That Hate America Most’, the same country that is also Pakistan’s strategic ally and a partner in the ongoing war on terror remained the third most immigrated country for which 1,125 Pakistanis renounced their citizenship.