ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill for establishment of special courts to decide property-related cases of overseas Pakistanis.

The Establishment of Special Courts Bill was moved by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain. He said the special courts will decide the cases within 90 days and the overseas Pakistanis will be able to file their complaints online.

Several members of the House welcomed the bill, noting that it was a longstanding demand of overseas Pakistanis.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui lauded the bill and termed overseas Pakistanis a precious asset. He said the remittances from overseas Pakistanis have gone up to a record level of three billion dollars a month.

Property-related cases to be decided within 90 days

The Senate also passed Deposit Protection Corporation amendment bill, moved by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

The minister said this was meant to ensure stability of the financial system, adding that this would strengthen bank resolution and recovery regime.

“This is essentially to deal with non-viable banks so that tax-payers’ money is not needed for bank resolution except under extreme circumstances,” he remarked.

He said the funds held by deposit insurance agency can be used to provide financial support.

The upper house passed a resolution congratulating the government on successful hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Senator Sherry Rehman moved the resolution, emphasising that this ma­jor summit marks a pivotal mo­ment in the country’s efforts to enh­ance its regional and global stature. She praised the summit as a significant achievement after many years, depicting that it will greatly enhance the country’s image.

She also commended Pakistan’s hospitality, acknowledging the large delegations that attended the summit. She emphasised that Pakistan is now viewed as a pivotal player in fostering regional connectivity, with the successful inauguration of Gwadar Port by China.

Reflecting on the country’s past diplomatic isolation, she highlighted the country’s renewed engagement with regional powers, particularly in the context of Asia’s rise as a global growth hub. “With Eurasia representing 40 per cent of the world’s population, Pakistan’s role in connecting these regions is crucial for future growth,” she said.

She also noted the international recognition Pakistan received for its robust security measures during the summit, contributing to the event’s overall success. Senator Rehman stressed the importance of sustained engagement and warned against complacency, drawing attention to the fate of other regional forums like Saarc, which has become inactive.

“We must ensure that the SCO does not face the same destiny. Pakistan is open for business, and we need to remember that this is just the beginning,” she remarked, calling for continued efforts to leverage the summit’s success.

However, Senator Rehman acknowledged that there is room for improvement, particularly in terms of coordination and follow-up.

She recommended the creation of a detailed report to ensure that the progress made during the summit is tracked and further developed.

A similar resolution was also passed by the National Assembly.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2024