Overseas Pakistanis ask: Who listens when investors suffer back home?

Kansas City-based overseas Pakistani Khalid Javid Cheema says corruption, red tape, and bureaucratic hurdles pushed his billion-rupee investment in Punjab toward collapse despite creating jobs and spurring modern industry.

WEBDESK – MediaBites News – Imran Malik

A successful overseas Pakistani who spent four decades building a thriving business empire in the United States says he now regrets investing billions of rupees in Pakistan after his flour mills in Punjab were allegedly sealed by local authorities.

The case of Khalid Javid Cheema, a businessman based in Kansas City, USA, is once again raising difficult questions about the treatment overseas Pakistanis receive when they attempt to invest in their homeland out of emotional attachment and patriotism.

Cheema, who has lived in the United States for the last 40 years and built a highly successful business there, returned to his roots a few years ago with a vision to create jobs and contribute to Pakistan’s economy.

Driven by love for his hometown, Wazirabad in Punjab, he established Al-Qadir Flour and General Mills on the Gujranwala-Ali Pur Chatha Road near Wazirabad. According to local sources, the project created employment opportunities for hundreds of people and introduced a modern flour milling setup in the area.

Sources close to the businessman claim that before launching operations, all required documentation, tax records, NOCs, and approvals were submitted to the relevant government departments, including Punjab authorities and local administration.

However, despite fulfilling official requirements, Cheema says he faced administrative hurdles at almost every step.

Now, the overseas investor alleges that the local food department has sealed his flour mill for the past seven days, causing major financial losses and putting stored products at risk of spoilage.

In a message circulating on social media, Khalid Javid Cheema directly appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for intervention.

“A’A sir, I’m an overseas Pakistani, staying in the USA for the last 40 years, and have done all kinds of labor and saved some money & brought it into Pakistan. I built a flour mill named Al-Qadir Flour and General Mills. The food department in Wazirabad has sealed my mill for 7 days. I did not even sell my products in the godown, which are going to spoil,” he wrote.

Cheema further alleged that officials repeatedly demanded money from him because he was new to the business and unfamiliar with local practices.

“It’s my request to CM Punjab Madam Maryam Nawaz, please take over my mill, and I shall go back to America,” he added.

The allegations have sparked concern among overseas Pakistanis on social media, many of whom say such incidents discourage foreign investment from expatriate Pakistanis already hesitant about investing in the country due to bureaucratic barriers and alleged corruption.

Critics argue that successive governments have repeatedly invited overseas Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan, calling them “the backbone of the economy,” yet many investors continue to complain about red tape, harassment, and administrative pressure after bringing capital into the country.

The case has also renewed debate over whether Pakistan has a reliable support mechanism for overseas investors facing disputes with local departments and officials.

So far, there has been no official response from the Punjab government or the Wazirabad food department regarding the allegations made by Khalid Javid Cheema.

For many overseas Pakistanis watching this case unfold, the bigger question remains painfully simple: if someone who spent 40 years abroad earning honestly and investing billions back home can feel helpless — who is truly protecting overseas investors in Pakistan?