Govt Considers Rs10,000 Membership Fee for Overseas Pakistanis
Islamabad/Dubai: The Pakistan government is considering imposing a membership fee of Rs10,000 on overseas Pakistanis as part of a proposal aimed at improving services and data management for expatriates.
According to details, the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) has proposed making membership mandatory with a five-year fee of Rs10,000. The initiative is intended to organize data of overseas Pakistanis and bring them under the foundation’s services, including housing schemes, educational scholarships, and legal assistance.
OPF Chairman Syed Qamar Raza stated that mandatory membership would enable the foundation to better serve expatriates by strengthening its financial resources. He added that the proposal has been approved by the relevant ministry and awaits final approval from the prime minister.
Currently, Pakistanis who migrate abroad through the Protector of Emigrants are automatically registered, but the new proposal seeks to extend mandatory registration to other categories of overseas workers as well.
The policy is expected to apply to more than 12 million Pakistanis living abroad, particularly in regions such as the United Arab Emirates, Gulf countries, and other parts of the world, where expatriates play a vital role in supporting Pakistan’s economy through remittances and investments.
Remittances have shown strong growth, reaching a record $38.3 billion in fiscal year 2024–25, with projections suggesting they could rise further to $41–42 billion. Data from the State Bank of Pakistan indicates that between July 2025 and February 2026, remittances increased by 10.5% to $26.5 billion compared to $24 billion during the same period last year.
In February 2026 alone, Pakistan received $3.3 billion in remittances, marking a 5.2% year-on-year increase. The top contributing countries included the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
