Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has raised concerns over senior government officials preparing to settle abroad while continuing to serve in the country’s bureaucracy. He said Portugal has become a preferred destination for these officials in recent years, raising questions about their commitment to Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says that several Pakistani officials have begun seeking permanent residency in the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe. He alleged that an intermediary took money from them in exchange for residency documents and then fled. #Pakistan #KhawajaAsif #Politics
— Falcon 24 (@Falcon_24Off) October 18, 2026
In a social media post, Asif questioned whether senior bureaucrats remained fully committed to their duties while making plans to move overseas during their government service.
Portugal becomes a favourite gestination
Asif said that many government officers had made Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and other European countries their permanent homes over the past several years. He claimed that some had planned their move abroad while still receiving salaries from the Pakistani government.
He added that Portugal had emerged as a popular choice among bureaucrats seeking to settle overseas. Asif said he had raised the issue in a social media post a few months ago, but concerns about the matter continued.
Senior officials under scrutiny
The defence minister said the officers whose names had surfaced in connection with the issue had received special support from successive governments. He also noted that some of them continued to hold important positions in the administration.
Asif further claimed that the person who helped arrange permanent residency in Portugal for these officials had left Pakistan after collecting large sums of money from several elite bureaucrats. He said several troubling stories about the matter were now circulating.
Questions over loyalty to Pakistan
Asif acknowledged that Pakistan’s bureaucracy has many capable and honest officers. However, he questioned the commitment of those who prepare to settle abroad while holding senior government positions.
He asked whether officials who had received respect, opportunities and important responsibilities from their country were truly committed to serving it throughout their careers.
The minister also questioned why people who had enjoyed the favour of politicians and had opportunities to build wealth through both fair and unfair means would choose to leave the country while remaining in powerful positions.
He ended his post by asking whether their loyalty to Pakistan was beyond doubt or whether they were simply treating their time in government as a temporary stop before moving abroad.
