Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Thursday the establishment of special courts to provide overseas Pakistanis with fast-track justice in property disputes — a move he described as a “landmark step” to protect expatriates’ rights.
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Dar made the announcement while inaugurating the renovated Consular Services Area at the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York. He said the government is committed to delivering services that ensure overseas Pakistanis are treated with dignity, efficiency, and convenience.
“At the heart of our agenda are overseas Pakistanis, whose contributions sustain our economy. With these reforms, we want to resolve their problems swiftly and fairly,” he said.
Under the newly enacted Establishment of Special Courts (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act, dedicated courts have been set up exclusively to handle property-related disputes of expatriates. These courts will allow evidence to be recorded via video link, enabling overseas citizens to participate in proceedings without the need to travel back to Pakistan. The law also permits electronic filing of petitions and documents, cutting down the time and cost traditionally associated with litigation.
“These measures will provide relief to thousands of families who have faced slow, costly, and often unfair property cases back home,” Dar added, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing long-standing diaspora grievances.
DPM/FM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 inaugurated the newly renovated Consular Services Area at the historic Consulate General of Pakistan in New York.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to serve overseas Pakistanis with dignity & efficiency, and lauded the… pic.twitter.com/5U30qi4iIu
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 25, 2025
Dar also announced that overseas Pakistanis will now automatically be treated as tax filers by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), simplifying their banking and business transactions. Reserved quotas have been allocated for their children in federal universities and medical colleges, while special facilitation offices have been established by provincial Boards of Revenue in Punjab and Balochistan to locally address complaints about land and property.
Beyond judicial reforms, Dar outlined a series of initiatives to ease the lives of overseas citizens, including:
- Revival of the Green Channel facility at airports for quicker immigration clearance.
- Introduction of the Visa Prior to Arrival (VPA) category for citizens of 126 countries.
- Expansion of consular facilities abroad to improve service delivery.
“These measures are part of a broader policy to recognize the critical role overseas Pakistanis play in Pakistan’s economy, particularly through remittances, which remain a major source of foreign exchange,” Dar said. “Their sacrifices deserve to be met with respect and solutions, not bureaucracy and red tape.”
Dar is currently in New York to attend the 80th UN General Assembly session and has been engaging with the Pakistani community in the United States. His outreach aims to deepen diaspora trust and encourage investment in Pakistan amid ongoing fiscal and economic reforms.
Analysts note that property disputes remain one of the top complaints of Pakistan’s 9 million-strong diaspora, with cases often delayed for years in local courts. The creation of special courts and digital participation mechanisms is seen as a potentially transformative step — provided implementation is effective.
For overseas Pakistanis, the reforms promise not just legal protection but also a renewed recognition of their importance to Pakistan’s economic future. The government hopes these measures will strengthen diaspora confidence, boost remittances, and encourage greater investment in the country.