Pakistan Bureaucrats Buy Land in Portugal: Khawaja Asif's Sensational Revelation

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has sparked major controversy by alleging that more than half of the country’s senior bureaucrats have quietly purchased properties in Portugal and are preparing to obtain citizenship there. According to Asif, these bureaucrats have leveraged their privileged positions—often amassing substantial wealth in questionable ways—to secure a peaceful, luxurious retirement in Europe rather than staying in Pakistan.

Key Points of the Controversy

• Land Bought in Portugal, Not US/UK:
  Rather than seeking homes in bigger, more conventional destinations like the US or UK, these Pakistani bureaucrats are reportedly investing heavily in Portugal, a smaller but attractive European nation known for its favorable residency and citizenship policies.

• Plan for Retirement Abroad:
  Asif claims that after long, prominent careers, many officers who held powerful public posts plan to settle with their families in Portugal, using wealth “collected”—often through embezzlement during their time in the bureaucracy.

• Citing a Notorious Example:
  The Minister referred to a particular bureaucrat close to ex-Punjab CM Usman Buzdar, who allegedly received up to Rs 4 billion as “salami” (gifts) at his daughters’ wedding. That individual now enjoys a comfortable foreign retirement, emblematic of the broader trend.

• Citizenship Trend Supporting Claims:
  Government data reveals that from 2016 to 2024, approximately 3,000 Pakistanis secured Portuguese citizenship—a sharp increase aligning with this new migration wave among the elite. Portugal’s residency and investment programs have made it easier for affluent foreigners to obtain citizenship and move their families abroad.

• “Politicians Left Behind”:
  Asif also made a pointed remark about the perceived disparity: politicians, he argued, must live among the public and contest elections, so they cannot easily own foreign plots or take foreign citizenship—unlike bureaucrats who arrange such privileges for themselves quietly.

Why Portugal?

Portugal offers a relatively straightforward path to residency and eventual citizenship through property investment or long-term legal stay. The country’s quality of life, favorable immigration policies, and the promise of a stable, Western retirement are major attractions for wealthy South Asians, including Pakistan’s officials.

Broader Implications

Khawaja Asif’s charges raise uncomfortable questions about corruption, accountability, and brain drain among Pakistan’s civil services. His public statements have intensified debates about the loyalty and ethics of the ruling class, as well as the transparency of wealth accumulation and foreign property acquisition by top public officials.