The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has directed authorities to establish new Protector Offices for job-visa holders within the current financial year, rejecting bureaucratic delays tied to budget and staffing constraints. The instructions were issued during a meeting chaired by Syed Rafiullah, who reviewed progress with the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, the Federal Investigation Agency, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The committee further pushed for full digital integration of protector services with NADRA and other government platforms to strengthen identity verification and curb reliance on agents. Officials confirmed that approvals for the new offices were in progress, but members insisted on completing the work before year-end, emphasizing the urgent need to support workers preparing for overseas employment.

Lawmakers also called for a faster rollout of the E-Protector system, noting that around 60,000 users have accessed the platform so far. To boost adoption, the committee urged ministries to expand public awareness through SMS alerts, social-media outreach, and local information drives, enabling emigrants to complete processes independently and avoid intermediaries.

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Accountability and transparency remained key priorities. Members demanded online service tracking, verifiable payment receipts, and stronger complaint-handling mechanisms. They also reaffirmed that all payments must be made exclusively through formal banking channels and recognized digital systems to ensure traceability and prevent exploitation.

The committee stated that these reforms are essential to modernizing Pakistan’s emigration infrastructure and safeguarding the rights and earnings of millions of overseas workers who contribute significantly to the national economy.