Islamabad – The fifth meeting of the high-level Task Force for Overseas Pakistanis, formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain.
During the meeting, the task force was entrusted with an expanded mandate to address the challenges faced by overseas Pakistanis and to improve services, protection, and investment facilitation.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing remittance inflows, creating investment opportunities, aligning skilled labor with global market needs, and developing a robust mechanism for promptly resolving overseas Pakistanis’ grievances. He stated that the government aims to transform its engagement with overseas Pakistanis into a meaningful partnership that contributes significantly to national development.
Participants of the meeting included OPF Chairman Syed Qamar Raza, Managing Director Muhammad Afzal Bhatti, Secretary Nadeem Aslam, representatives from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and key federal institutions and ministries.
The task force deliberated on a comprehensive strategy based on four strategic pillars:
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Ensuring safe and sustainable remittances
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Promoting investment opportunities
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Enhancing skill development
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Establishing an effective complaints resolution mechanism
The meeting also reviewed the implementation status of directives issued by the Prime Minister during the Overseas Pakistanis Convention 2025. Relevant institutions were urged to provide formal notifications and written updates. The task force also decided to set clear timelines for performance monitoring and progress tracking.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain directed all departments to resolve outstanding matters urgently and compile a comprehensive report covering achievements and ongoing challenges. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and OPF reiterated their resolve to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and strengthen inter-agency coordination to expedite service delivery for overseas citizens.
It is worth noting that Pakistan heavily relies on billions of dollars in annual remittances from its overseas population. The government is moving toward new policies and partnerships to strengthen their vital role in the country’s economy.
