ISLAMABAD, June 16: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday that baggage rules had been changed to increase allowances for overseas Pakistanis.

“Initially, overseas Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will benefit from the change in the baggage rules,” he added.

Speaking at a post-budget news conference, he said that 3,000 gold cards had been issued to the overseas Pakistanis to enjoy better facilities while returning home.

These gold cards, he elaborated, would be offered to overseas Pakistanis. “So far, Pakistan has received over $1.6 billion remittances which are likely to reach the $2.2 billion mark,” the minister said.

He said those who would be sending $10,000 annually to Pakistan would be eligible for $1500 worth of purchases at duty-free shops in the country.

Later, an official of the finance ministry said that many overseas Pakistanis had started sending their remittances through normal banking channels as hundi was being discouraged.