Islamabad, February 9, 2026: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was held under the chairmanship of Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, with Senators Nasir Mehmood, Bilal Ahmed Khan, Shahadat Awan, and Jan Muhammad in attendance.
During a briefing on the implementation of earlier decisions regarding employment and emigration, officials informed the Committee that staff skills certificates are recognized across European Union countries. They noted that soft skills certificates can be obtained through five-day physical and online training programs, with around 480,000 registered participants currently enrolled. Free soft skills certificates are being provided, with approximately Rs. 3 million spent on management costs.
Responding to a query about the purpose and benefits of soft skills training, officials said the program was introduced after the UAE raised concerns over disorderly conduct involving some Pakistanis, including improper use of social media. They added that technical education is being provided to 453,000 students, while soft skills training covers procedural guidance and host country regulations. The Committee appreciated the initiative and summoned the CEO of NAVTTC to attend the next meeting for further clarification.
Officials from the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) briefed the Committee that the organization’s responsibility begins once individuals depart for employment abroad. They explained that funds belonging to deceased Pakistanis—whether they passed away abroad or in Pakistan—are collected from the respective country and transferred to legal heirs.
The Committee was informed that around 750,000 Pakistanis go abroad for work annually, while approximately 12 million have migrated since 1971. Officials clarified that individuals issued protectorates multiple times are counted in the data. OPF shares its data with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), but does not receive information on returning Pakistanis. The Committee directed that the DG FIA be summoned at the next meeting to address the matter.
On the issue of Pakistanis imprisoned abroad, officials stated that relevant data is maintained by embassies. In response to questions about courts for overseas Pakistanis, the Committee was informed that such courts have been established at the subordinate level, including in Islamabad and Punjab. Officials said details regarding pending and decided cases—particularly from Punjab—would be presented in a future briefing.
The Committee was further informed that overseas Pakistanis are entitled to free medical treatment during visits to Pakistan and can avail up to 50 percent discounts on security services, hotels, and laboratories. An annual convention for overseas Pakistanis will also be held in the country.
Officials noted the absence of dedicated housing societies for overseas Pakistanis in Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while housing schemes in Islamabad and Lahore remain pending. They added that seized land has been recovered, OPF losses have been reduced by 50 percent over the past year, and PTCL land in Sindh could be used for a future joint housing scheme. The Committee sought a comprehensive briefing on all projects, including School Park residential initiatives, at the next session.
Highlighting broader immigration trends, officials projected foreign exchange inflows to reach $42.5 billion in FY2025–26, but cautioned that undeclared restrictions by the UAE, Oman, and Malaysia are creating visa challenges for Pakistani workers.
Muhammad Amin, Deputy Director General of the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), also briefed the Committee. He noted that EOBI, established in 1976, currently provides a minimum pension of Rs. 11,500 and a maximum of Rs. 32,000, depending on insurable employment and retirement age.
As of July 31, 2025, EOBI’s total investment portfolio stood at Rs. 643.59 billion, spanning real estate, government securities, and equities, with investment decisions made by the Board of Trustees. Last year, 432,000 new contributors and 48,000 pensioners were added. EOBI reported total income of Rs. 159.66 billion, up from Rs. 127.79 billion in 2023–24, reflecting an increase of Rs. 24.93 billion year-on-year.
