Fast-track courts to settle land-grab cases of overseas Pakistanis
PROPERTY DISPUTES TO BE RESOLVED IN 30 DAYS; FIRST COURT IN ISLAMABAD
Pakistan will launch “fast-track courts” to help overseas Pakistanis settle landgrabbing cases quickly, an official said yesterday.
Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, special assistant to prime minister on overseas Pakistanis and human resources development, spoke to Gulf News on the sidelines of an event hosted by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) in Dubai.
Bukhari said that the special courts will be operational within the next few months. Bukhari had promised to do so during his first visit to Dubai in January 2019 after taking office.
“It took us two years to fulfil the promise I made to our NonResident Pakistanis due to legal formalities. Now, we are all set to roll out these courts which will bring the much needed relief to Pakistani expats,” he said.
Bukhari added that any cases taken up by a fast-track court will be settled within 30 days.
Business disputes
Bukhari said that the first such court will be set up in Islamabad with special courts opened in all provinces gradually. “At a later stage, these courts will also take up business disputes of overseas Pakistanis. This will also give relief to foreign investors,” he added.
Earlier, speaking at the PBC event organised to welcome the new Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE Afzaal Mahmood, Bukhari said that Pakistan would soon launch its “tourism brand”.
“Brand Pakistan will be a one-stop portal. It will have information about travel, hotels, places to visit, airlines connection, transport links, food and culture. Special packages will also launched for foreign tourists,” he said, adding that the prime minister will soon launch a 10-year tourism policy and five-year action plan to promote tourism.
Mahmood said he was working on plans to enhance bilateral trade between the UAE and Pakistan with the PBC’s help. “We will take a delegation of leading businessmen and officials to Pakistan to explore opportunities,” he said.
Iqbal Shaikani, PBC President, said that the PBC will work closely with the consulate and Pakistan’s Expo 2020 Dubai team to make Pakistan’s pavilion successful. The PBC is working to improve trade links between UAE and Pakistan, he said.