Islamabad, 2 November 2021 (TDI): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has launched an app ‘FM Portal’ to facilitate overseas Pakistan. The worldwide launching ceremony of the FM Portal was held at Foreign Office (FO), Islamabad.
Foreign Minister (FM) of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, formally inaugurated the FM Portal.
Foreign Secretary, Sohail Mahmood, Special Secretary, Raza Bashir Tarar as well as senior officials, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, were present on the occasion. Additionally, Pakistan’s envoys from all over the world virtually participated in the event.
It is to be noted here, in the pilot phase, launched in June 2021, the app was made available online for five Pakistani missions including Barcelona, Dubai, Jeddah, London, and New York. However, the app is now available for 114 missions serving overseas Pakistanis from 187 countries.
FM Portal: An Overview
FM Portal is a quick and transparent management system to facilitate overseas Pakistanis and improve public service delivery.. It connects every mission of FO with diaspora across the globe digitally.
This initiative aims to strengthen relationship between overseas Pakistanis and missions in the form of feedback, complaints, and suggestions.
Through FM Portal, overseas Pakistanis can register their problems, queries, and suggestions. They can download this app from Apple App Store and Google play store.
The app is launched under the umbrella of ‘Vision FO Thought Leadership Platform.’ It is a continuation of Prime Minister((PM) Imran Khan’s vision of digitization and the Foreign Minister’s ‘Digital Diplomacy’ and ‘Public Diplomacy’ agenda.
https://twitter.com/FMPublicDiploPK/status/1455120729175908357?s=20
‘National Information Technology’ and ‘PM Performance Delivery Unit’ have jointly collaborated to develop this mobile app.
Furthermore, under the initiative, the foreign office also plans to open NADRA counters at 16 missions abroad. These NADRA counters will facilitate the issuance of succession certificates and administrative letters to overseas Pakistanis.
Additionally, under this initiative, 14 foreign missions have been granted access to digital records of ‘mutation’ and ‘registration’ documents of the Punjab Land Records System.
Services available under FM Portal
The services of the FM Portal include
- Standard procedure for document verification
- Launch of QR and digital system to minimize swindling
- Verification of documents through courier services in Pakistan
- Online verification of power of attorney for overseas Pakistanis through missions
Foreign Minister Address
Speaking on the occasion, the Foreign Minister congratulated the participants on the successful global launch of FM Portal. He said, through FM Portal, Foreign Office will be better able to facilitate the expatriates. Its main purpose is to improve quality of service and increase missions’ reach to people.
Furthermore, Foreign Minister Qureshi urged the envoys, of the foreign missions of Pakistan, to engage and develop linkages with the Pakistani communities in their respective countries. He encouraged the envoys to redress their problems timely and promptly.
He also informed the participants that all foreign missions of Pakistan have an online presence through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The diplomatic missions in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait have also launched their android apps to increase interaction with overseas Pakistanis. Moreover, missions monthly engage with community members through E-Kachari.
Additionally, the Foreign Minister said the incumbent government priorities the concerns of Pakistanis diaspora and has launched many initiatives for them. He also apprised the participants that Pakistan’s remittances are more than its exports. Therefore, Pakistani diaspora plays an important role in the country’s economy.
Moreover, FM Qureshi remarked that it is a priority of this government to channelize the Pakistanis diaspora to achieve foreign policy objectives and improve Pakistan’s image.
FM Direct App
Additionally, under the digital diplomacy agenda, the foreign minister also launched ‘FM Direct APP’ last year. This web-based application provides an opportunity to all officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both at the headquarters and missions abroad, to interact with the Foreign Minister directly. The officers can share their views independently and without any restriction. It also provides an interactive platform for the exchange of dialogue and ideas.
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