ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan’s government has taken an important and historic step for overseas Pakistanis by allowing dual citizenship for Pakistani nationals residing in Germany.
In this reagrd, Pakistanis who wish to acquire German citizenship will no longer be required to renounce their Pakistani nationality, addressing a long-standing demand of the Pakistani community living in Germany.
The decision has been taken as part of an expansion of Pakistan’s national policy on dual citizenship under the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951. As a result of this policy extension, Germany has now been formally added to the list of countries with which Pakistan permits dual nationality.
In such a case, the government officials have clarified that this decision is not linked to any recent changes in Germany’s citizenship laws.
Instead, it represents an independent and sovereign policy decision taken by the Pakistan’s government, keeping in view the welfare and interests of Pakistanis living abroad, particularly those settled in Germany for many years.
Meanwhile, a senior official at the Immigration Bureau stated that the move aims to safeguard the legal, social, and national identity of Pakistanis residing in Germany.
With this decision, Pakistanis who obtain German citizenship will be able to retain their Pakistani nationality, maintain their national ties, and continue to enjoy their legal status as Pakistani citizens.
Moreover, the official further explained that dual citizenship will allow these individuals to continue owning property in Pakistan, exercise inheritance rights, and benefit from other civic and legal facilities. The absence of dual citizenship had created significant challenges for many overseas Pakistanis, particularly in matters related to property ownership, family inheritance, and long-term investment in Pakistan.
In such a scenario, Pakistan currently has formal dual citizenship arrangements with 21 countries around the world. These include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and several other major countries.
Germany is home to more than 150,000 Pakistanis, many of whom are actively contributing to the country’s economy and society.
