Pakistan Boosts Consular Services for Overseas Citizens Through Digitization

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was briefed on Thursday in Islamabad regarding the enhancement of consular services for overseas Pakistanis, with a particular focus on digitizing various processes. Officials from the foreign ministry, interior ministry, FIA, IT ministry, and Pakistani ambassadors presented updates on initiatives aimed at improving services like document attestation and foreign payment systems. The meeting, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and several federal ministers, highlighted the government's commitment to treating overseas Pakistanis as a valuable asset and prioritizing their facilities. Key developments include the introduction of a QR code-based system to simplify processes for power of attorney, property transactions, and document attestation, along with a digitized complaint registration system. The prime minister emphasized the prominent display of these QR codes at Pakistani embassies and missions abroad and called for a public awareness campaign to maximize their use. To further facilitate citizens, an evening shift has been launched at the Foreign Office in Islamabad, and document attestation services are now available at the Asaan Khidmat Centre. The attestation process has been streamlined into a one-step procedure under the Apostille system and integrated with major national databases like HEC and Nadra, enhancing speed and efficiency. A mobile application is also under development with the National Information Technology Board to digitally attest documents such as birth, death, and marriage certificates. These efforts follow a previous meeting chaired by DPM Dar, who stressed the need for efficient, transparent, and timely facilitation of public services.