ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced a special package for overseas Pakistanis, including the construction of Mirpur International Airport and the establishment of special courts.
Addressing the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad, the premier unveiled multiple measures for the facilitation of overseas Pakistanis, including the revival of the Green Channel.
He said the Green Channel would be operationalized in the next couple of weeks.
Talking about the welfare of overseas Pakistanis, PM Shehbaz said that special courts would be established in Islamabad and other provinces for the speedy disposal of cases concerning overseas Pakistanis.
The premier added that the Pakistani diaspora would be provided the facility of e-recording of evidence on video link in Pakistan’s missions abroad, adding that they would also be facilitated with e-filing of cases.
Talking about the longstanding demand for an international airport in Mirpur, he said that a feasibility test has been ordered for the facility.
Furthermore, PM Shehbaz added that fifteen outstanding men and women among the Pakistani expatriates will be conferred civil awards on 14 August every year in recognition of their contributions in their particular fields.
In addition to that, PM announced that “there will be a 5% quota for overseas Pakistanis in federal universities”, while 3,000 children of overseas Pakistanis will be given admission in the medical colleges.
In addition to this, the premier announced a five-year age relaxation in government jobs for overseas Pakistanis. The exemption in the upper age limit for Overseas Pakistani women for government jobs has been increased from five to seven years.
Furthermore, Shehbaz Sharif said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been directed to treat overseas Pakistanis as filers in business activities and banking matters.
He said the FBR has established a special office in Balochistan and Punjab for the facilitation of overseas Pakistanis, and this facility will be further extended to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltista, and Azad Kashmir.
Moreover, the Prime Minister added that a desk has been established at the Federal Ombudsman Office, where overseas Pakistanis can lodge their complaints via email and WhatsApp.
