Islamabad : The government has termed the Overseas Pakistanis Convention as a manifestation of national resolve and said that Overseas Pakistanis are not only the ambassadors of Pakistan but their remittances are the backbone of the country’s economy.
The government salutes their patriotism, sacrifices and unwavering commitment to Pakistan. The first “Overseas Pakistanis Convention” is being held in Islamabad from April 13 to April 15, 2025, in which overseas Pakistanis have been given the status of state guests.
On the special instructions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, special reception, complete protocol, welcome banners and public events are being organized for Overseas Pakistanis at airports.
The aim of the convention is to welcome Overseas Pakistanis to their homes, embrace them, listen to their concerns, and improve policymaking in the light of their valuable suggestions.
The Government of Pakistan has announced a big and historic step for Overseas Pakistanis. The government has given a clear message that Pakistan welcomes its sons and daughters living all over the world with open hearts. The purpose of this convention is not just to welcome, but to listen to the concerns of Overseas Pakistanis, make their suggestions a part of policy making and ensure their welfare. On this occasion, convenience counters of various government agencies will also be set up so that Overseas Pakistanis can get guidance, information and facilities at one place.
Special arrangements are also being made by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation to welcome all the participants. The convention will invite overseas Pakistanis to play an effective role in the country’s development process and consultations will also be held on improving the policies available for them.
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development says that this convention is an opportunity for Pakistanis living around the world to reconnect with their homeland — not only physically, but also with a bond of heart and spirit. Pakistan is waiting for you!
On the special instructions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, a 3-day convention is being organized in the federal capital Islamabad to inform overseas Pakistanis about the measures.
The convention is being organized in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.
Hundreds of overseas Pakistanis from all over the world are participating in the Overseas Pakistanis Convention on an official and private level. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the aim of this convention is to welcome overseas Pakistanis to their homes, embrace them, listen to their concerns and improve policymaking in the light of their valuable suggestions. The Government of Pakistan has decided that overseas Pakistanis coming to participate in the convention will be given the status of state guests. Special arrangements and welcome banners are being put up at the airports to welcome them.
The participants will be welcomed with full protocol and respect, while public events will also be held.
All these arrangements are being made on the special instructions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan with the determination to make Pakistanis living around the world feel that Pakistan is their home.
The Overseas Pakistanis Convention will provide a forum where overseas Pakistanis, government representatives and national institutions will come together under one roof.
For this purpose, convenience counters of various government institutions are being set up so that information, guidance and services can be provided to overseas Pakistanis at one place.
This initiative is a manifestation of the fact that the Government of Pakistan is very serious about listening, understanding and providing immediate solutions to the problems of overseas Pakistanis.
On this occasion, the overseas community will be invited to play an effective role in the development process of Pakistan, and suggestions for improving the facilities and policies available to them will also be considered. It should be remembered that the Overseas Pakistani Foundation of Pakistan (OPF) is an institution that has a reputation and was established by the Government of Pakistan in 1989 to fulfill a mission for the welfare of Overseas Pakistanis because at that time many Pakistanis had started working abroad and the then government wanted to take appropriate steps to address their legitimate grievances and since then OPF has been diligently carrying out its work. It has improved further with the passage of time.
A lot of work has been done on real estate. Many projects are still being started in many cities of the country where many housing schemes are being run. Apart from this, education, complaints cell, financial assistance, assistance in obtaining compensation for overseas workers, vocational training for unskilled people, ambulance service and one-window desks have been established at all international airports of the country.
It is fortunate for Overseas Pakistanis that for the first time one of them has been nominated as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Overseas Pakistani Foundation. Syed Qamar Raza is The first overseas Pakistani to be on the governing board of the institution is the chairman of the board of directors. He is a wealthy businessman based in London who has a large business both at home and abroad. His plans include the restoration of PIA flights, abolishing tax on mobile phones, which was also implemented, exemption from import duty in Pakistan in exchange for money sent by those living abroad, and the establishment of an advisory council for overseas Pakistanis, which will have two hundred members. They will be given the status of state guests in Pakistan and will be able to convey their problems directly to the government.
In this regard, about two hundred personalities have been selected from all overseas Pakistanis, including about fifty people from the United States, and all of them will present their proposals for the completion of the welfare projects of overseas Pakistanis at the convention center in Islamabad. They will meet Army Chief General Munir and Prime Minister Sharif for dinner, and there too, overseas problems will be discussed. OPF has an annual fund of seven billion rupees, which no one knows about. Where is it being spent? How is it being spent? In Europe and America, no one had any idea about OPF. Often, non-profit organizations claim to represent overseas Pakistanis under different names.
Unlike America and England, the majority of them in the Gulf countries go to work on work permits and most of the OPF’s income is received only thanks to the membership of the Overseas Pakistani Foundation based in the Gulf, because they are obliged to give a part of their visa protector fee to OPF. OPF has seven colleges, twenty schools, some housing societies and about twenty-five hundred employees. Several lakhs of insurance claims can be filed on the death of overseas Pakistanis and assistance is provided for the transportation of the dead body as well as the compensation of the relatives, which includes the education expenses of the children.
Pakistan is currently facing a state of terrorism and an economic crisis, which the current government is working on. The economic crisis has been controlled to some extent.
If the government of Pakistan If the problem of illegal possession of properties of overseas Pakistanis is overcome, overseas Pakistanis will give top priority to investing their money in property in Pakistan, which will bring capital to Pakistan.
Currently, overseas Pakistanis have around two hundred billion dollars in America alone, and the people of Dubai are ready to provide all kinds of facilities for investment in property there.
International Association of Pakistani Journalists President Shahid Chauhan has said that the organization will fully participate in the overseas convention to be held in Pakistan.
Executive members of the International Association of Pakistani Journalists, an international organization of Pakistani journalists, attended an online meeting. The overseas convention to be held in Pakistan is of great importance for overseas Pakistanis, in which a delegation from IAPJ will participate specially. Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salak Hussain and Chairman Board of Governors Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Syed Qamar Raza and on the special invitation of the Government of Pakistan, renowned Pakistani journalist based in the UAE, Senior Vice President of Pakistan Journalists Forum UAE Sadia Abbasi are also participating in the said convention.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, wherever they live, Pakistanis are Pakistanis at heart. Overseas Pakistanis are not only the true ambassadors of Pakistan but their remittances are the backbone of the country’s economy.
The statement further said that the Government of Pakistan salutes their patriotism, sacrifices and unwavering commitment to the country. Overseas Pakistanis are close to our hearts. Their welfare, facilitation and connecting them to Pakistan are top priorities of the current government.