Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reviewed measures to digitise consular services, speed up document verification and improve complaint mechanisms for overseas Pakistanis.
The meeting was briefed on initiatives aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles and streamlining services provided at Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad.
Officials said a QR code-based system had been introduced to simplify procedures related to powers of attorney, property transactions and document verification for expatriates.
Document attestation services have also been launched at the Easy Service Centre in Islamabad, while a courier-based attestation facility is available to provide greater convenience to citizens.
The document verification system has been linked with the databases of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the National Police Bureau to expedite verification.
Officials said work was under way to fully digitise the system, with a mobile application being developed in collaboration with the National Information Technology Board (NITB). The app will enable digital verification of documents, including birth and death certificates, marriage registration certificates and family registration certificates.
Under the apostille system, the attestation process has also been converted into a one-stop service, while an evening shift has been introduced at the Foreign Ministry’s office in Islamabad.
The prime minister directed authorities to launch an awareness campaign among overseas Pakistanis about the QR code-based complaint registration system to encourage wider use of the facility.
He said providing facilities to overseas Pakistanis was among the government’s top priorities.
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