• Online attestation, e-payments, courier service to speed up processing
• Mobile app in the works for digital certification of official records
ISLAMABAD: The government is taking steps to improve services for overseas Pakistanis by digitising document attestation, simplifying complaint procedures and developing electronic payment systems, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a briefing on Thursday.
PM Shehbaz called overseas Pakistanis a “valuable national asset” and said ensuring they receive every possible facility remains one of his administration’s highest priorities.
The prime minister welcomed a newly introduced QR code-based system for registering complaints and ordered that the codes be prominently displayed at Pakistani embassies and missions worldwide to improve public access.
He instructed officials to launch a special awareness campaign so more citizens abroad can use the system to register complaints.
Officials informed the prime minister that a QR code system is already operational to streamline procedures for power of attorney, property purchases and sales, and document attestation for overseas Pakistanis.
To further ease public access, the Foreign Ministry recently launched an evening shift at its Islamabad office, introduced a courier-based attestation service, and opened document attestation facilities at the Asaan Khidmat Centre in Islamabad.
The attestation system has been integrated with databases from the Higher Education Commission, the Inter Boards Coordination Commission, the National Database and Registration Authority, and the National Police Bureau to make processing faster and more efficient.
Under the apostille system, attestation has been converted into a one-step procedure, officials said.
Thursday’s briefing about progress made in improving services for overseas Pakistanis brought together Pakistan’s ambassadors stationed in various countries, officials from the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Ministry of Information Technology, and other senior officials.
Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2026
