The government is roling out a new digitization program for property-related transactions for overseas Pakistanis to protect them from fraud and encourage investment in Pakitan’s real estate sector.

Initially, Pakistanis living in UAE and Saudi Arabia will benefit from the plan.

Overseas Pakistanis are hesitant to invest in properties in their country due to fraud and swindling by the people.

The government has now come up with an initiative that can lure investments and promote remittances from overseas Pakistanis. This programme will provide tax, investment, property, and baggage incentives.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received many complaints regarding land possession, property purchase, misinterpretation of land or property sales and fake documentation by land mafias.

In a meeting chaired by the human resource development secretary, Dr Arshad Mehmood, on Friday officials discussed granting digital access for multiple services including fard grants, enrollment of digital property transactions and mutation certificates to all the Pakistani embassies located in different countries, English language daily Dawn reported.

It was decided that the embassies and high commission would provide audio-video facilities for overseas Pakistanis, authenticate documents, and verify signatures, said the newspaper quoting an official.

The initiative will ensure that land records, electronic filing of land purchases, sales and transfers, and mutation certificates are made available to overseas Pakistan across all embassies.

Around 10 to 11 million Pakistanis live abroad and for employment or emigration purposes, most of them in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.