PHOTO COURTESY: RADIO PAKISTAN
The incentives package was announced on Monday during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
As part of the new package, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and its authorised dealers i.e. commercial banks are allowed to carry out Business-to-Customer (B2C) and Customer-to-Business (C2B) transactions through correspondent foreign entities under their existing home remittance agency arrangements, according to an official handout issued by the PM Office.
PM Imran announces measures to facilitate overseas Pakistanis
Under the incentives package regarding B2C transactions, freelance and information systems services have been allowed to transact up to $1,500 per individual per month; transaction services other than computer and information services have also been allowed to transact up to $1,500 per individual per month; and pensioners can now receive up to Rs250,000 per individual per month.
And under the incentives package regarding C2B transactions, residents can easily receive direct payments from overseas Pakistanis to pay for utility bills, education fees of HEC-accredited institutions, superstores, insurance companies, credit card bills, etc.
Besides, remittances received by "reputed" real estate developers and housing societies from overseas Pakistanis on account of purchase of property such as residential and commercial houses, plots, flats and buildings, etc have also been allowed except remittances for equity or participation in an enterprise.
The prime minister also approved a proposal for the government to pay an incentive or Rs2 – as against Re1 previously – for the use of mobile wallet on each transaction of $1 remittance as airtime.
For foreign exchange companies and banks bringing in 15 per cent more remittances than the previous financial year, an incentive of Re1 will also be granted against each $1 incremental remittance transaction.
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The PM also allowed a survey of Pakistani workers employed abroad, especially in the Middle Eastern countries, to offer their feedback on how to further improve the home remittance processes.
Calling overseas Pakistanis "our greatest asset", the premier promised that his government would facilitate them in every manner.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Asad Umar, Special Assistant to PM for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari, the NADRA chairman, the SBP governor, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman and others.
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