Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif announced a package on Wednesday to help overseas Pakistanis with various initiatives. He expressed confidence that the next government would continue these efforts.
The prime minister mentioned that Pakistanis living abroad have gained recognition for their hard work, contributions, and innovations. He emphasized the importance of supporting them quickly, stating that these initiatives would motivate overseas Pakistanis.
Today I announced an incentive package for overseas Pakistanis that reflects our government's commitment to providing them with improved services and support. This package aims at enhancing their engagement with Pakistan and to ease their interactions with various institutions.…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 9, 2023
“They are like great ambassadors for Pakistan. If we provide them with skill development training and certifications from global companies, our Pakistani workforce can enhance the valuable remittances sent to the country,” he said.
Gulf And Europe
In the Gulf and Europe, the prime minister noted a high demand for skilled labor. He suggested adopting successful training models used by other countries to equip Pakistani workers for modern requirements worldwide.
The prime minister’s package for overseas Pakistanis includes setting up special courts to address property issues faced by expatriates. A court in Islamabad will serve as a model for other provinces. Hotlines will be established in offices under chief secretaries and the ICT chief commissioner. Overseas Commissions will be established in all provinces. There will be a 10 percent quota for overseas Pakistanis in public sector housing projects, with a 5 percent rebate for foreign exchange payments. Dedicated counters will be available at all airports. Top contributors to remittances will be recognized.
A 5 percent quota will be reserved for overseas Pakistanis in professional public sector educational institutes. Scholarships will be provided for higher education. National saving schemes will be introduced at attractive rates. NADRA’s central system will be linked at the union level for various facilities. The number of camp offices for document attestation, online biometric verification, and removal of blacklisted passports will be increased.
The prime minister also commended the efforts of the Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis, the officials, and their team in facilitating expatriate Pakistanis.
Other Developments
Earlier, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Sajid Tori highlighted the achievements of the ministry. Online facilities have been established for overseas Pakistanis, including addressing property issues, school enrollment, housing society matters, passports, and more. Agreements have been signed with 15 countries, with 12 more in progress for sending manpower abroad. The ministry has sent over 1,227,000 Pakistani nationals to various countries, increasing the number of overseas Pakistanis to over 10 million.
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