Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting on digital reforms for overseas Pakistanis.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accelerate reforms aimed at improving consular services for overseas Pakistanis through expanded digital systems, faster document attestation and a more accessible complaints mechanism.
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Chairing a high-level meeting, the prime minister received a detailed briefing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistani ambassadors, the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Ministry of Information Technology and other senior officials on progress made under the reform programme.
The prime minister said overseas Pakistanis are a valuable national asset and stressed that providing them with efficient and modern public services remains one of the government’s highest priorities.
Digital services to improve embassy access
Officials informed the meeting that the government has already introduced a QR code system to simplify services related to Power of Attorney, property transactions and document attestation.
The prime minister welcomed the digital complaints system and directed authorities to display the QR code prominently at Pakistani embassies to improve public access.
Furthermore, he instructed the Foreign Ministry to launch a public awareness campaign so that more overseas Pakistanis can use the digital platform to register complaints and seek assistance.
Document attestation process streamlined
The meeting was told that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced an evening shift at its Islamabad office to improve service delivery.
Authorities have also launched document attestation services at the Asaan Khidmat Centre in Islamabad and introduced courier-based attestation facilities.
In addition, officials integrated the system with the databases of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC), NADRA and the National Police Bureau, allowing faster verification and processing of official documents.
Officials also informed the prime minister that the Apostille system has simplified the attestation process by converting it into a single-step procedure.
Mobile application under development
The government is now working on the next phase of reforms to fully digitise the system.
In collaboration with the National Information Technology Board (NITB), authorities are developing a mobile application that will enable users to verify documents such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage registration certificates and family registration certificates digitally.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, several federal ministers, the minister of state, the prime minister’s special assistant and senior officials from relevant ministries attended the meeting.
