Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has launched a significant welfare initiative aimed at addressing the longstanding concerns of overseas Pakistanis, offering legal support, employment incentives, and educational opportunities. Speaking at the inaugural Overseas Pakistanis Convention, held in Islamabad and attended by over 1,200 expatriates, the premier lauded the vital role of more than 10 million overseas Pakistanis in the nation’s development.
A central component of the initiative is the establishment of a dedicated special court for overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad, with plans to expand the service across all provinces to expedite the resolution of legal cases. To enhance accessibility, the government is introducing e-recording and e-filing services, enabling expatriates to give testimonies via video link without needing to travel to Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz has directed NADRA to complete the implementation of this digital platform within 60 days and announced legal reforms to prevent fictitious litigation.
The government is also allocating quotas in educational institutions for the children of overseas Pakistanis, including a 5% quota in chartered universities, 5% in federal degree-awarding institutes, and 15% in medical colleges. Furthermore, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) will provide 5,000 skill development courses to children of expatriates.
Overseas Pakistanis will be granted filer status by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), affording them tax relief on banking and business transactions. The government has also approved an age relaxation of five years for male and seven years for female overseas job applicants to apply for government jobs. Special facilitation offices have been launched in Punjab and Balochistan, with plans to replicate them in other regions including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting digital reforms, Shehbaz praised Punjab’s progress, such as the online sale deed registration system, which will now be piloted at the Pakistani High Commission in London before being implemented in other missions worldwide.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the record $4.1 billion in remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis in March, estimating a total of $38 billion by the fiscal year’s end, surpassing Pakistan’s exports.
In recognition of their contributions, the government will revive the Green Channel at airports to simplify procedures for expatriates. Additionally, outstanding overseas Pakistanis will receive civil awards every August 14 based on remittance data from the State Bank, with nominations submitted by diplomatic missions and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.
Shehbaz Sharif also expressed unwavering support for the Pakistan Armed Forces and COAS General Asim Munir, commending their role in safeguarding national security and fighting terrorism. He condemned social media campaigns against the military and emphasized the importance of national unity and logic in countering misinformation.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s stance on global issues, the premier condemned ceasefire violations in Kashmir and mourned the martyrdom of 50,000 Muslims in Gaza.
Criticizing the previous government’s breach of the IMF agreement, Shehbaz praised current and former coalition governments for restoring economic stability. He also pledged to personally oversee and facilitate overseas investments, declaring himself as the CEO of overseas initiatives to ensure protection and support for expatriate investors.
Chairman OPF Syed Qamar Raza confirmed that the Prime Minister positively responded to 14 key demands of the diaspora and formed a high-level committee under Deputy PM Ishaq Dar. He announced that the Overseas Convention will now be held annually in April, recognizing the critical contributions of overseas Pakistanis in 160 countries.
