Parliamentary disclosures have highlighted growing risks to Overseas Pakistanis as private Overseas Employment Promoters continue to dominate recruitment while thousands of properties owned by expatriates face encroachment. Lawmakers raised concerns that reliance on private OEPs exposes workers to illegal fees, misleading contracts and fraudulent practices despite regulatory frameworks that are meant to protect emigrants.
Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhary Salik Hussain told the National Assembly that the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment licenses and oversees OEPs to ensure lawful manpower export, but unauthorized sub agents remain active and put prospective migrants at risk. The minister said the government has increased public-sector placements through the Overseas Employment Corporation to offer safer channels for workers seeking foreign jobs.
Official figures show the OEC expanded placements in Saudi Arabia from 452,562 in 2024 to 530,256 in 2025, while Japan placements rose from 1,518 to 2,210 across IT, manufacturing, healthcare and technical trades. Italy’s Decreto Flussi programme provides 10,500 quotas for 2026 to 2028 in sectors including agriculture, construction and healthcare. Overall overseas employment demand stands at roughly 140,688 vacancies, with 133,730 channelled by private OEPs and 6,958 managed by the OEC, underscoring the continuing role of private recruiters in the market.
To curb exploitation of Overseas Pakistanis the government has tightened licensing, inspection and monitoring. Measures include verification of visa and employment documents, scrutiny of demand letters, coordination with Pakistani missions abroad and strict action against violations such as FIR registration, license cancellation, forfeiture of security deposits and refunds to affected emigrants. Public awareness campaigns are being run to educate citizens on legal recruitment channels, risks of illegal migration and safe migration procedures.
Digital systems are being rolled out to improve oversight, with an integrated Management Information System, biometric verification, computerized emigration clearance and online complaint handling designed to track overseas employment end-to-end. Officials say these centralized mechanisms will make it harder for unauthorized agents to operate and will speed redress for workers who face fraud or contract breaches.
Alongside labour concerns, the session examined property encroachments impacting Overseas Pakistanis. The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation has developed an Online Complaint Management System linked to the Pakistan Citizen Portal to streamline grievance redressal. The portal connects 11,223 officers across 6,285 departments, including 86 embassies, high commissions and consulates, to process complaints raised by expatriate owners.
Encroachment complaints are routed to government housing authorities, district administrations, revenue departments and law enforcement for resolution. Key provincial agencies engaged in these efforts include Punjab Police, the Anti Corruption Establishment Punjab, the Criminal Control Department Punjab and the Board of Revenue Punjab, reflecting a multi-agency approach to reclaiming and protecting properties of Overseas Pakistanis.
Judicial remedies have also been strengthened with special courts dedicated to overseas property disputes. Islamabad has operational benches at the High Court and designated Special Judges for East and West districts under the Special Court (Overseas Pakistanis’ Property) Act, 2024. Punjab enacted the Special Courts Act, 2025 and designated judges across districts. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has forwarded a draft bill for approval, Balochistan has passed its Special Courts Act though judges are yet to be designated, and Sindh is deliberating a draft at the Chief Minister’s level.
Lawmakers and officials say the combined legal, administrative and digital measures aim to offer more secure pathways for overseas employment and stronger protections for the assets of expatriate Pakistanis, but they acknowledge enforcement and coordination across provinces remain critical to delivering results on the ground.
