PM announces special courts, university quotas for overseas Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced the establishment of special courts for overseas Pakistanis and the allocation of university quotas for their children, in a bid to recognise their contributions and address long-standing concerns.

Speaking at the Overseas Pakistanis’ Convention in Islamabad, the prime minister said that overseas citizens would now be considered tax filers by default.

He announced a five per cent quota for the children of overseas Pakistanis in all chartered universities and a 15 per cent quota in medical universities across the country.

According to APP, the three-day event kicked off Sunday and hundreds of overseas Pakistanis from around 60 countries arrived Islamabad to participate in this first-ever convention.

The event has provided overseas Pakistanis with an opportunity to connect face-to-face with the prime minister and senior government officials.

In his address, PM further said that special courts would be set up to address legal matters involving overseas citizens, who would be allowed to appear via video link to ease the burden of travel.

“Overseas Pakistanis sent a record $4.1 billion in remittances in March alone,” the premier noted, praising their continued support and urging them to keep contributing to the country’s development.

Shehbaz Sharif also announced plans to build an airport in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a long-standing demand of the overseas Pakistani community in the UK.

He added that the top 15 overseas Pakistanis who send the highest remittances to the country would be honoured with civil awards.

Army chief praises overseas Pakistanis’ resilience

Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir also addressed the convention, expressing admiration for the spirit of overseas Pakistanis.

“You are not just ambassadors of Pakistan but the light that shines across the globe,” he said.

Dismissing negative narratives around migration, the army chief declared, “This is not brain drain — this is brain gain.”

He lauded the efforts of overseas Pakistanis in representing the country with dignity and added that no external force, including terrorists, could destabilise Pakistan.

“Even ten generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan or Pakistan,” he said.

General Munir reaffirmed the military’s resolve to eliminate all hurdles to Pakistan’s progress, stating that unity between the public and the armed forces was key to national strength.

He also paid tribute to the sacrifices of the country’s martyrs, stressing that the nation would never forget their legacy.

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“Kashmir is and will remain Pakistan’s lifeline,” he said, while also expressing solidarity with Palestinians, noting, “The hearts of Pakistanis beat with the people of Gaza.”