Expat investors bedeviled by property fraud

7,814 complaints of financial fraud have been received from expats so far

LAHORE:

While the Government of Pakistan has long considered granting overseas Pakistanis the right to vote, it has still not been able to practically address their fundamental issues. One such grievance revolves around the resolution of financial fraud cases, which despite the establishment of the Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC), are largely hanging in uncertainty.

According to documents obtained by The Express Tribune, the Overseas Pakistanis Commission Punjab Act was approved to formally establish the commission. During previous governments, 5,300 complaints were resolved. In contrast, the present government has resolved over 8,000 complaints in just two years and recovered property worth more than Rs100 billion from land grabbers. Several MoUs were also signed with different departments to streamline services for overseas Pakistanis.

According to OPC records, 7,814 complaints have been received so far, of which 3,579 have been resolved. Most complaints relate to property fraud, police matters, and revenue disputes. Overseas Pakistani, Chaudhry Waseem reported a fraud case involving files of land worth Rs210 million and a vehicle, alleging that the commission had failed to investigate. Similarly, England-based Pakistani Nasir Shah revealed that his two plots in Lahore were illegally sold through forged documents, yet he had not received possession or justice.

This is despite the fact that the current government has revamped the OPC web portal and formed District Overseas Pakistanis Committees headed by the Deputy Commissioner, with the DPO as a member and the ADC(R) as secretary. A NADRA center has been established inside the OPC while MoUs with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and the Provincial Ombudsman aim to ensure the quick resolution of related departmental issues. The Board of Revenue’s Maal Markaz initiative also claims to help overseas Pakistanis with land records and property transfers.

OPC Vice Chairman Barrister Amjad Malik claimed that overseas Pakistani’s were a national asset and that the commission was fully committed to resolving their issues quickly. “Complaints from the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are being addressed promptly and reports are submitted to both the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. A new mobile app will significantly reduce processing time from months and years to weeks and days,” said Malik.

Overall, the previous three governments had a complaint-resolution rate of 37 per cent, while the current government has claimed a 64 per cent rate, apparently resolving more than 7,000 cases in two years. However, critics have still argued that much needs to be done to ensure timely justice to oversees Pakistanis. Aashiq Ali Rana, an expert on overseas Pakistanis’ affairs, welcomed the establishment of the OPC but criticized its politicization, particularly in the appointment of the Chairperson.

“While the commission and its rules exist, it remains largely inactive; hearings are irregular, and accused parties often fail to appear, eroding public trust, which is already weak due to frequent policy changes and political interference. Most complaints involve land grabbing and financial fraud, which require immediate action. Without reliable justice and protection of their investments, overseas Pakistanis are unlikely to invest,” opined Rana, who suggested online trials, e-filing, and notifications via WhatsApp and email to facilitate participation of overseas Pakistanis.

Commissioner OPC Punjab Saman Rai informed that special courts in 37 districts had now been formally notified to ensure prompt decisions in overseas Pakistanis’ property disputes. “These courts aim to protect overseas Pakistanis from land grabbers, restore their trust, and prioritize long-delayed inheritance and property cases. District and Additional District & Sessions Judges have been appointed to oversee these special courts,” said Rai.