Manchester (Tajammal Gurmani) — Vice Chairman of the Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Barrister Amjad Malik, has announced that special judges have been appointed in 37 districts of Punjab to tackle illegal occupation of properties belonging to overseas Pakistanis. A new department, PERA (Property Early Resolution Authority), has been established to recover properties from land grabbers.
He was addressing a media briefing at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Manchester, where Consul General Imtiaz Feroz Gondal, Welfare Attaché Misbah Noreen, and a large number of senior journalists were present.
Barrister Amjad Malik said that on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a state-of-the-art One-Window Facilitation Centre has been set up on Mall Road, Lahore. Representatives from NADRA, Khidmat Centre, Land & Property, and other relevant departments are available there to assist overseas Pakistanis.
He revealed that out of 35,000 complaints received, the Overseas Commission has already resolved 26,000 cases.
He added that Pakistan has introduced a new electronic system for property sale, purchase, and transfer, ensuring transparency and preventing misuse of power of attorney. To further strengthen the system, consulate offices abroad will soon be given registrar powers, enabling overseas Pakistanis to transfer properties without fear of fraud.
Special courts will decide cases within three months, while the High Court has also expedited the appeals process. Overseas Pakistanis will be able to record their statements through video link at Pakistan’s High Commission and consulates abroad.
Highlighting PERA’s performance, Barrister Malik said the authority has so far recovered more than 1,000 properties from illegal occupants. He urged the media to highlight the challenges faced by overseas Pakistanis so that they can be addressed effectively.
He said that cases related to the properties of the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK will be heard by a federal court in Islamabad. He expressed hope that the Government of Azad Kashmir will soon establish its own Overseas Commission similar to Punjab’s model.
Barrister Amjad Malik praised Pakistan as an exceptional country for tourism, investment, healthcare, and business opportunities. He stressed the need to promote a positive image of Pakistan globally. He further disclosed that the government is considering reserved seats for overseas Pakistanis in Parliament and working on establishing an Overseas Bank.
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