Pakistan Cuts Property Taxes and Airfares for UAE-Based Expatriates

The Pakistan government has introduced a series of financial incentives for its citizens residing in the UAE, including significant reductions in property taxes and airfare discounts. The measures are designed to encourage the use of legal banking channels for foreign exchange transfers as the country seeks to stabilize its foreign reserves. Tax Relief and Property Incentives Under the new directives, overseas Pakistanis (NRPs) will benefit from reduced tax rates on the purchase and sale of immovable property. Specifically, the government has moved to lower the withholding tax for those registered with the Sohni Dharti Remittance Program (SDRP). In regions such as Islamabad and parts of Punjab, tax liabilities for NRPs have been streamlined to attract investment into the domestic real estate sector. Additionally, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has clarified that non-resident Pakistanis who maintain an active tax status through official remittances will be eligible for exemptions on certain capital gains taxes. This move targets the thousands of Pakistani professionals in Dubai and the Northern Emirates who contribute a significant portion of the country’s annual $27 billion…