Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday inaugurated the newly renovated Consular Services Area at the historic Consulate General of Pakistan in New York, established in 1948.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that serving overseas Pakistanis with respect, effectiveness, and top-tier amenities is the top priority for Pakistan’s Missions abroad.

He outlined improvements enacted by the Government of Pakistan under Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, including specialized tribunals for overseas Pakistanis, remote testimony recording from Missions, electronic case filing, financial and tax support by recognizing overseas Pakistanis as filers, university and medical school quotas for their offspring, assistance centers in Punjab and Balochistan, reinstatement of the Green Channel at airports, and the Visa Prior to Arrival (VPA) option for 126 nations.

Senator Ishaq Dar lauded the Consul General and his staff for modernizing the Consulate’s historic building while maintaining continuous community amenities.

Consul General Aamer Ahmed Atozai expressed gratitude for the Deputy Prime Minister’s attendance and direction, and detailed the Consulate’s community initiatives. These include a 24/7 emergency hotline, a Punjab Land Record center, upgrades to the phone system, a new website, a NADRA Desk, online Power of Attorney, an online appointment system, regular E-Kachehris and town halls, and cultural and economic outreach.

The upgraded Consular Services Area demonstrates the government’s dedication to providing superior amenities to its overseas community.