PM Shehbaz reviews digital reforms to improve services for Overseas Pakistanis

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reviewed a comprehensive plan aimed at improving services for Pakistanis living abroad, including the modernization of embassy facilities, digital transformation of document attestation, a simplified complaints system, and online access to government services from overseas.

The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting where officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan’s ambassadors serving in different countries, the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Ministry of Information Technology, and other senior departments presented updates on the progress achieved under the initiative.

During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif described overseas Pakistanis as one of the nation’s greatest assets, emphasizing that ensuring their convenience and addressing their concerns remained among the government's foremost priorities.

Officials informed the prime minister that a QR code-based facility had already been introduced to streamline procedures related to powers of attorney, property buying and selling, and the attestation of official documents for overseas citizens.

Welcoming the digital complaints registration system, the prime minister instructed authorities to prominently display the QR code at all Pakistani embassies to ensure easier public access. He also called for a dedicated awareness campaign so that a greater number of overseas Pakistanis could make use of the online complaint platform.

The meeting was further informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had recently launched an evening shift at its Islamabad office to better serve the public. Additionally, document attestation services are now available at the Asaan Khidmat Centre in the capital.

Officials said the ministry had also introduced courier-based document attestation, while integrating the verification process with the databases of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC), NADRA, and the National Police Bureau, significantly reducing processing time and improving efficiency.

Participants were also told that the implementation of the Apostille system had converted the attestation process into a single-step procedure, making it simpler and more convenient for applicants.

Looking ahead, the meeting was informed that work was advancing rapidly on the complete digitization of the system.

In partnership with the National Information Technology Board (NITB), a mobile application is being developed to enable the digital verification of birth certificates, death certificates, marriage registration certificates, family registration certificates, and other official documents.

Among those attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Aun Chaudhry, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, along with senior officials representing the relevant ministries and government departments.