Photo Credit : KT File
Pakistani expatriates, including those living in the UAE, may soon be required to obtain membership of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) under a new proposal awaiting approval from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The OPF has proposed making membership compulsory for all overseas Pakistanis, with a fee of Rs10,000 (approximately Dh130) for a five-year period. Chairman Syed Qamar Raza said the initiative aims to strengthen the foundation’s financial capacity and improve services for expatriates.
According to Raza, the proposal has already received approval from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and is now pending final clearance from the prime minister.
The move would apply to more than 12 million overseas Pakistanis living across the UAE, Gulf countries, the Middle East, and other regions. In the UAE alone, the Pakistani community exceeds two million people, making it one of the largest expatriate groups in the country.
The OPF, a non-profit organisation, is tasked with addressing the challenges faced by Pakistanis abroad and is planning to introduce additional facilities and support systems for the diaspora if the proposal is implemented.
Overseas Pakistanis remain a key pillar of the national economy through remittances and investments. Pakistan recorded a historic $38.3 billion in remittances during the 2024–25 fiscal year, with projections suggesting inflows could reach $41–42 billion in the near future.
Data from the State Bank of Pakistan shows remittances grew by 10.5 per cent between July 2025 and February 2026, reaching $26.5 billion compared to $24 billion during the same period last year.
In February 2026 alone, remittances stood at $3.3 billion, reflecting a 5.2 per cent year-on-year increase. The UAE emerged as the largest contributor with $696.2 million, followed by Saudi Arabia ($685.5 million), the United Kingdom ($532 million), and the United States ($319.5 million).
Raza has been visiting several countries, including Germany, South Korea, and Japan, to engage with overseas communities and assess their concerns. During his recent visit to the UAE, he held meetings with community members, business leaders, and consulate officials to gather feedback on issues faced by expatriates.
