ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar Monday inaugurated the provision of land record services and one window passport processing system at the Pakistan High Commission in London.
These initiatives fulfill the commitment made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in April 2025, marking a significant step toward efficient, transparent, and accessible governance for Pakistanis abroad, says the Foreign Office in a statement.
The land record services, developed through a collaboration between the Punjab Land Revenue Authority (PLRA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enable British Pakistanis to remotely access and manage property records in Punjab without traveling to Pakistan. This digital platform offers services such as online sale deeds, Fard (Record of Rights), e-Girdawari, mutation entries, and document attestation, all secured by the blockchain technology to ensure transparency and prevent fraud.
A dedicated Land Services Desk at the Pakistan High Commission in London will support the pilot phase, with plans to expand to other Pakistani Consulates in the United Kingdom. Concurrently, the one window passport processing system, implemented by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (IMPASS), streamlines passport application procedures by consolidating multiple steps into a single, efficient counter.
This system reduces the processing time to approximately 10 minutes per application, enhancing convenience, reducing congestion, and ensuring greater transparency for British Pakistanis.
In his remarks, Dar described these initiatives as “a digital leap toward safeguarding diaspora rights and fostering investment.” He commended the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Punjab Land Revenue Authority, National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), and the Pakistan High Commission, London for their dedication to realising the government’s vision of innovative, responsive, and efficient services for overseas Pakistanis.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Monday met with the British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hamish Falconer. Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening cooperation across political, economic, climate, and people-to-people domains.
They also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Dar highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to economic reforms, and shared Pakistan’s perspective on regional developments, including peace and stability in South Asia.
He underscored the importance of the just and peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. The two leaders appreciated the positive trajectory of Pak-UK ties and expressed satisfaction over the ongoing collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
They also underscored the importance of maintaining regular high-level engagements to build on the existing momentum and to explore new avenues for strategic cooperation. APP adds: The deputy prime minister and foreign minister also held productive meetings with British MPs of Pakistan-origin Mohammad Yasin, Tahir Ali, Imran Hussain, Ayoub Khan and Adnan Hussain and underscored the deep historical and cultural bonds between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, which are further strengthened by the vibrant Pakistani diaspora in the UK.
He highlighted the diaspora’s pivotal role as a bridge between the two nations, fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchanges, and robust people-to-people connections. Dar emphasized Pakistan’s strong commitment to enhancing bilateral parliamentary exchanges with the United Kingdom.
He noted that such engagements facilitate the sharing of democratic experiences, international best practices, and core democratic values, which are vital for the growth and stability of democratic institutions in both countries.
He also expressed appreciation for the proactive efforts of the British MPs in raising awareness about the human rights violations and atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K). He commended their dedication to highlighting these issues in the UK Parliament and increasing public awareness in Britain about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
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