Birth to a Pakistani parent creates nationality. The 1951 Act grants citizenship to persons born in Pakistan (excluding children of diplomats or enemy aliens), a territorial rule narrowed in practice since a 1999 ruling toward requiring a Pakistani parent.
The foreign wife of a Pakistani man is entitled to citizenship with no residence requirement.
A child born abroad is a Pakistani citizen by descent where a parent is a citizen otherwise than by descent; maternal descent has counted since 2000.
A Commonwealth citizen may be registered as a Pakistani citizen after remitting a set amount (commonly cited around PKR 5,000,000) to the State Bank of Pakistan. The route is limited to Commonwealth nationals and approval is discretionary.
Adults generally need about five years of residence plus proficiency in a vernacular language and good character; grant is discretionary.