Terms diaspora valuable asset for the nation, premier calls for momentum in ongoing projects
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Chairman OPF Syed Qamar Raza and Managing Director OPF Mohammed Afzaal Bhatti in Islamabad on July 1, 2026. PHOTO: PMO/X
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) to prepare and present a comprehensive roadmap for further improvement of the body’s initiatives.
According to an X post from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Prime Minister Shehbaz met OPF Chairman of the Governing Council Syed Qamar Raza as well as OPF Managing Director Afzaal Bhatti.
“Discussions were held on the Foundation’s initiatives to address the problems of Pakistanis residing abroad,” the PMO wrote. It added that Prime Minister Shehbaz in his remarks “stated that overseas Pakistanis are a valuable asset to the nation who contribute significantly to foreign exchange remittances by sending their hard-earned earnings back to Pakistan.”
The Prime Minister directed the OPF that “further momentum must be brought to the ongoing projects and initiatives for the welfare of overseas Pakistanis.”
During the meeting with Raza and Bhatti, Prime Minister Shehbaz was briefed about the roadmap for further measures to promote the welfare of overseas Pakistanis and provide them with facilities, the PMO said.
The OPF officials also lauded the Prime Minister for Pakistan’s efforts towards global peace, while Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed satisfaction with OPF’s initiatives and directed the body to prepare a road map.
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Overseas Pakistanis contribute nearly $40 billion annually, helping to support household incomes, finance imports and stabilize external accounts. At a time when exports are largely stagnant and foreign direct investment is not gaining momentum, remittances provide a reliable source of foreign exchange.
They have repeatedly cushioned the economy during periods of crisis and remain one of the few economic indicators showing sustained growth. In January, it was reported that remittances rose to a record $3.6 billion by December 2025. However, given the conflict in the Middle East, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics warned in March that the annual inflow of remittances could fall by $3-4 billion.
It also noted that every year about 700,000 to 800,000 Pakistanis travel to the Gulf countries for work, and said that if the conflict continued, about 500,000 Pakistani expatriates may not be able to go abroad for work by 2026.
