ISLAMABAD: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain has said that overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries would soon have access to an online facility for the transfer of property in Pakistan, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.
Pakistanis living abroad remit billions of dollars back home annually, which play a major role in supporting Pakistan’s external account, especially at a time when the country is grappling with an economic crisis that has weakened its currency and caused its foreign exchange reserves to plummet.
Hussain said the online property transfer facility would initially be made available for Pakistani expatriates residing in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Property transfer complaints would be resolved within 20 days,” the minister was quoted as saying by the broadcaster. “Problems with the power of attorney would also be resolved soon.”
Pakistani expatriates sent a total of $3.2 billion in May that recorded an increase of 15.3 percent on a month-on-month basis and by 54.2 percent on a year-on-year basis, according to figures shared by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have consistently remained top contributors of foreign remittances to the South Asian country and accounted for more than $1.5 billion in May.
Cash-strapped Pakistan is currently looking to clinch a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for more than $6 billion bailout this month after addressing all of the lender’s requirements in its annual budget, its junior finance minister said this week.
The South Asian country has set challenging revenue targets in the budget to win approval from the IMF for a loan to stave off another economic meltdown, more than a year after averting a sovereign default.
Pakistan to launch online property transfer facility for overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia, UAE
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Pakistan to launch online property transfer facility for overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia, UAE
- Pakistanis living abroad remit billions of dollars back home annually, supporting Pakistan’s external account
- Chaudhry Salik Hussain says the facility will help resolve property transfer complaints within a period of 20 days
Pakistan seeks wider access to Canadian market as both sides want deeper agricultural cooperation
- Islamabad urges faster certification for canola and halal products in a bid to expand agricultural exports
- Canada pledges collaboration on pest management, invites Pakistan to the Canada Crops Convention
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday pressed for improved access to Canadian agricultural markets and faster certification procedures for key exports as Islamabad looks to modernize its climate-strained farm sector and resolve long-standing barriers to trade, according to an official statement.
The push comes as Pakistan, a largely agricultural economy, faces mounting challenges from erratic weather patterns, including floods, droughts and heatwaves, which have hurt crop yields and raised food security concerns. Islamabad has increasingly sought foreign partnerships and training to upgrade farm technology, while pursuing export-oriented growth to diversify markets for mangoes, rice, kinnow, dates and halal meat.
Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and Canadian High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan met to discuss “strengthening bilateral collaboration in agriculture, enhancing market access for key commodities, and advancing ongoing phytosanitary and technical cooperation,” according to the statement.
“Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain stressed the importance of resolving market access challenges to ensure uninterrupted trade in priority commodities, particularly canola, which constitutes Pakistan’s major agricultural import from Canada," it continued. "He highlighted that Pakistan seeks robust and timely certification and registration processes to facilitate predictable canola imports."
"The Minister emphasized that Pakistan is eager to strengthen its halal export footprint in Canada and sought CFIA’s [Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s] support in accelerating certification procedures for halal gelatin, casings, and value-added poultry," it added.
High Commissioner Khan acknowledged Pakistan’s concerns, the statement said, and assured Hussain of Ottawa’s readiness to deepen technical collaboration.
He also briefed the minister on Canada’s pest management systems and grain supply chain controls, adding that his country looked forward to facilitating Pakistan’s plant protection team during an upcoming systems-verification visit.
Khan also invited Pakistani officials to the Canada Crops Convention in April 2026 and confirmed participation in the Pakistan Edible Oil Conference, reaffirming that “Canada views Pakistan as a priority partner in the region.”
Hussain proposed forming a joint working group to maintain momentum on technical discussions and regulatory issues as both officials agreed to strengthen agricultural cooperation.
