PM Sharif announces job quotas, legal reforms, and civil awards to attract and support Pakistani diaspora’s contributions.
Key Takeaways:
i) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced comprehensive welfare packages, including job quotas and legal reforms, to address the concerns of overseas Pakistanis.
ii) The government aims to enhance the contribution of overseas Pakistanis to the national economy, notably through increased remittances and investments.
iii) Legal and administrative reforms, including the establishment of special courts and digital services, were introduced to facilitate overseas Pakistanis.
Islamabad, Pakistan – April 15, 2025 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled a series of significant incentives aimed at bolstering the contributions of overseas Pakistanis to the nation’s economy. Speaking at the inaugural two-day Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad, the Prime Minister highlighted the crucial role of the diaspora, comprising over 10 million individuals, in Pakistan’s development. “Overseas Pakistanis are the pride of the nation,” he stated, emphasizing their “unmatched contribution in the nation-building.”
To address longstanding legal challenges faced by expatriates, Prime Minister Sharif announced the expansion of special courts for overseas Pakistanis to all provinces. He also introduced e-recording and e-filing facilities, allowing expatriates to provide evidence remotely. “To support this, the government is introducing e-recording and e-filing facilities for overseas Pakistanis to provide evidence through video link from abroad without traveling to Pakistan,” he said, directing NADRA to expedite the implementation of these digital solutions.
In an effort to further integrate overseas Pakistanis into the national fabric, the government has established quotas in educational institutions. This includes a 5% quota in all chartered universities, 5% in federal capital degree-awarding institutes, and 15% in medical colleges for the children of expatriates. Additionally, overseas Pakistanis will now be considered filers by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), granting them relief in banking and business transaction taxes. The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) will also offer 5,000 skill development courses to the children of expatriates.
To attract overseas talent to the public sector, the government has introduced age relaxation for job applicants, with a five-year relaxation for males and a seven-year relaxation for females. Furthermore, special facilitation offices have been established in Punjab and Balochistan to streamline administrative processes, with plans to extend this initiative to other provinces.
“I will be your CEO. My cabinet and our business community will ensure that your investments are protected and facilitated,” he assured.
Prime Minister Sharif lauded the record $4.1 billion in remittances sent in March alone, projecting that total remittances would exceed $38 billion by the end of the fiscal year, surpassing the country’s total exports. He also announced the revival of the Green Channel at airports to facilitate smoother travel for overseas Pakistanis.
Recognizing the contributions of outstanding overseas Pakistanis, the government will confer civil awards annually on August 14, based on remittance contributions tracked by the State Bank. Diplomatic missions and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) will submit nominations for these awards.
The Prime Minister also addressed national security concerns, praising the Pakistan Armed Forces and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir for their role in safeguarding the nation. He condemned terrorism and called for unity against “venomous narratives” targeting the military on social media.
“To support this, the government is introducing e-recording and e-filing facilities for overseas Pakistanis to provide evidence through video link from abroad without traveling to Pakistan,” he said, directing NADRA to expedite the implementation of these digital solutions.
Concluding his address, Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the causes of Kashmir and Gaza and pledged to personally oversee investments from overseas Pakistanis. “I will be your CEO. My cabinet and our business community will ensure that your investments are protected and facilitated,” he assured.
Chairman OPF Syed Qamar Raza acknowledged the Prime Minister’s positive response to 14 key demands of the overseas Pakistanis and the formation of a high-powered committee under Deputy PM Ishaq Dar. He also announced that the Overseas Convention will be held annually.
