Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled a comprehensive welfare package for overseas Pakistanis, aimed at resolving longstanding legal challenges and offering a range of incentives, including education and employment job quotas, civil awards, and skill development opportunities.
The package includes the following incentives:
- Special Courts for Overseas Pakistanis
- A special court has been set up in Islamabad.
- These courts will be expanded to all provinces to handle legal cases faster.
- Online Legal Help
- Overseas Pakistanis can now give evidence through a video link without coming to Pakistan.
- A system for online recording and filing of legal documents is being developed.
- Education Quotas for Children
- 5% quota in all chartered universities.
- 5% quota in Islamabad’s degree-awarding institutes.
- 15% quota in medical colleges.
- Skills Training
- 5,000 skill development courses will be offered to the children of overseas Pakistanis.
- Tax Benefits
- Overseas Pakistanis will be counted as “filers” by FBR.
- This will reduce taxes on banking and business transactions.
- Age Relaxation for Government Jobs
- 5-year age relaxation for male applicants.
- 7-year relaxation for female applicants.
- Green Channel at Airports
- The Green Channel is being revived to make airport procedures easier.
- Civil Awards for Top Contributors
- Every year on August 14, overseas Pakistanis who send high remittances will receive awards.
- Nominations will be made by embassies and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.
- Support for Investments
- The PM said he will personally ensure overseas investments are protected.
- A committee led by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar has been formed to follow up on overseas issues.
- Digital Services Abroad
- Punjab’s online property registration system will be tested at the Pakistani High Commission in London.
- It will be introduced in other missions later.
- Annual Overseas Convention
- A big overseas convention will now be held every year in April.
