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
Fire erupts at factory in Karachi export zone, no casualties reported
- Blaze breaks out in Landhi area as firefighters deploy snorkels and water bowsers
- Sindh chief minister seeks detailed report, calls for swift emergency response
KARACHI: A major fire broke out at a factory in Karachi’s Export Processing Zone on Friday, prompting a large-scale response by firefighters as authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said fire tenders and snorkels were deployed to the site in the Landhi Export Processing Zone, with additional water bowsers brought in to help contain the blaze.
“Another big challenge for our brave firefighters,” he said in a social media post. “Fire has erupted at a factory in Export Processing Zone and our fire tenders and snorkels are present on ground to tackle the situation.”
https://x.com/murtazawahab1/status/2019831802945478804?s=20
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from the Karachi commissioner, according to a statement from his office.
He issued emergency instructions to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and fire services, directing authorities to ensure swift rescue operations and safety measures.
The chief minister also instructed officials to ensure immediate assistance to affected workers and their families and ordered a joint investigation by the administration and relevant authorities to determine the cause of the fire.
Fires are common in Karachi’s industrial areas, often blamed on faulty wiring, poor safety compliance and inadequate enforcement of building regulations.
The latest blaze comes weeks after a deadly fire at Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in January killed at least 67 people, intensifying scrutiny of fire safety and emergency preparedness in the city’s commercial and industrial buildings.
