Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (PaJK) — The Government of Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development has announced the immediate closure of its Protectorate of Emigrants sub-offices in Bagh and Rawalakot, citing “persistent operational challenges, financial constraints, and minimal public utilization.”
The decision, formalized in a notification dated July 1, 2025, has triggered sharp criticism from Kashmiri civil society, migrant workers, and local advocacy groups, who argue that the move unjustly undermines the rights and dignity of overseas Kashmiris—many of whom play a crucial role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy through remittances.
The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a civil coalition based in Azad Kashmir, strongly condemned the move, terming it an “injustice” to the region’s overseas workforce. “It is unacceptable to shut down services that are funded by the people themselves through official fees. This not only adds logistical burden but reflects a pattern of administrative negligence toward Kashmiris who contribute billions annually to Pakistan’s foreign reserves,” the committee said in a press release.
The Bagh and Rawalakot sub-offices were originally established to serve the emigrant population in these regions—primarily to facilitate legal documentation, labor approvals, and emigration clearances for overseas employment. Their closure now means affected individuals will have to travel farther, likely to Islamabad or other major cities, for basic procedural requirements.
While the Ministry’s notification frames the closure as a fiscal and efficiency measure, critics argue that the underlying issue is a lack of will to strengthen decentralization and accessibility in Kashmir. “If financial viability is the concern, then why not improve service delivery and outreach instead of withdrawing essential infrastructure?” said a rights activist in Rawalakot who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
This development comes amid rising dissatisfaction in both Indian and Pakistani-administered regions of Kashmir, where residents often feel excluded from major national decision-making processes. The closure is being seen by many not just as a bureaucratic adjustment, but as part of a larger pattern of neglect toward border and mountainous regions.
The JPAC has warned of potential street protests if the government does not reverse the decision. “Either restore the offices immediately or return the remittances we send home with trust and sacrifice,” the group declared.
Despite its jurisdiction over the disputed territory, the Government of Pakistan has yet to issue a formal statement addressing the local backlash. Calls are now growing for divisional administration in Azad Kashmir to intervene and advocate on behalf of the region’s emigrant community.
As political tension simmers, the episode underscores a larger conversation around the rights of Kashmir’s global diaspora and their representation within domestic policy frameworks—an issue that remains inadequately addressed by both Islamabad and New Delhi.
