Plan to Make OPF Membership Mandatory for Overseas Pakistanis; Proposed Fee Set at Rs10,000
Islamabad: The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) has proposed making its membership mandatory for all overseas Pakistanis, with a recommended fee of Rs10,000 for a five-year period.
According to reports, OPF Chairman Syed Qamar Raza shared the proposal in an interview, stating that mandatory membership would enable the foundation to better serve Pakistanis living abroad by strengthening its financial resources.
He said the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis has approved the proposal and forwarded it to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for final approval. The OPF is a non-profit organization aimed at addressing the issues faced by overseas Pakistanis.
Under the proposed policy, more than 12 million Pakistanis living abroad—across regions including the United Arab Emirates, Gulf countries, the Middle East, and other parts of the world—would be covered, with enhanced facilities expected to be introduced.
Overseas Pakistanis play a vital role in the country’s economy through investments and remittances. In the fiscal year 2024–25, Pakistan received a record $38.3 billion in remittances, with projections suggesting this could rise to $41–42 billion this year.
Data from the State Bank of Pakistan shows that remittances increased by 10.5% between July 2025 and February 2026, reaching $26.5 billion compared to $24 billion during the same period last year.
In February 2026 alone, Pakistan received $3.3 billion in remittances, reflecting a 5.2% year-on-year increase. The largest share came from the UAE ($696.2 million), followed by Saudi Arabia ($685.5 million), the United Kingdom ($532 million), and the United States ($319.5 million).
It is noteworthy that over two million Pakistanis are currently working in the UAE across various sectors.
Syed Qamar Raza is currently visiting different countries to assess the challenges faced by overseas Pakistanis. He recently toured Germany, South Korea, and Japan, where he met officials and community members. During his visit to the UAE, he also held meetings with business figures and consulate officials to discuss community issues.
