Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced a wide-ranging welfare package for overseas Pakistanis during the first two-day Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad. The package includes legal reforms, education and employment quotas, civil awards, and skill development opportunities for expatriates and their families.
Addressing over 1,200 Pakistani expatriates from around the world, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the more than 10 million overseas Pakistanis, calling them “the pride of the nation” for their contributions to Pakistan’s development.
Legal Reforms and Digital Initiatives
“A special court for overseas Pakistanis has already been established in Islamabad and will be extended to all provinces for swift resolution of legal cases,” the Prime Minister announced. To support this initiative, the government is introducing e-recording and e-filing facilities that will allow expatriates to provide evidence through video link without traveling to Pakistan.
“I have directed NADRA to complete the project within 60 days,” he said, assuring legal amendments to curb fictitious litigation against overseas Pakistanis.
Education and Employment Opportunities
The Prime Minister announced several quotas for children of overseas Pakistanis, including a 5% quota in all chartered universities (out of 10,000 seats), 5% in federal capital’s degree-awarding institutes, and 15% in medical colleges.
Additionally, the federal government has granted a five-year age relaxation for male overseas job applicants and a seven-year relaxation for overseas women applying for government jobs. The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) will offer 5,000 skill development courses to children of expatriates.
Financial and Administrative Facilitation
“Overseas Pakistanis will now be considered filers by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), enabling relief in banking and business transaction taxes,” PM Shehbaz announced. Special facilitation offices have been established by the Boards of Revenue in Punjab and Balochistan, with similar initiatives planned for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister also announced the revival of the Green Channel at airports within a week, originally initiated by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to simplify procedures for overseas Pakistanis.
Recognition and Investment Protection
In recognition of their contributions, the Prime Minister announced that outstanding overseas Pakistanis will receive civil awards on August 14 each year, based on remittance contributions tracked by the State Bank. Diplomatic missions and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) will submit nominations for these awards.
PM Shehbaz lauded the overseas community for their economic support, noting the record $4.1 billion in remittances sent in March alone. “We estimate that by the end of this fiscal year, the remittances will surpass $38 billion, exceeding the country’s total exports,” he said.
The Prime Minister pledged to personally oversee investments by overseas Pakistanis in Pakistan. “I will be your CEO. My cabinet and our business community will ensure that your investments are protected and facilitated,” he assured.
National Security and International Issues
During his address, PM Shehbaz paid tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces, particularly Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, whom he described as “a man of words and unmatched capability.” He highlighted the sacrifices of 80,000 Pakistanis in the fight against terrorism and condemned “venomous narratives” on social media targeting the military.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the causes of Kashmir and Gaza, denouncing ceasefire violations and the loss of lives in Gaza.
OPF Chairman’s Remarks
Chairman of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, Syed Qamar Raza, noted that PM Shehbaz had positively responded to 14 key demands of overseas Pakistanis and formed a high-powered committee under Deputy PM Ishaq Dar. He confirmed that a mega Overseas Convention will be held annually every April and acknowledged the support of COAS General Asim Munir in organizing this year’s convention.
