Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar underlined the need for ensuring quality of education at the institutions run under OPF and vowed to improve infrastructure. “I have received complaints also in this regard which would be addressed soon through accountability of those responsible for its declining standard,” he stated this in an exclusive interview with APP.
Several projects are underway to ensure quality education in the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) institutions and its standard will be improved at every cost through ensuring possible facilities to students as well as staff there, he added. He expressed his resolve to introduce reforms in educational institutions, besides bringing improvement in the management. The minister said four projects are underway in various OPF educational institutions including Islamabad, Punjab, Azad Kashmir while several others would be initiated in near future, hoping for better educational facilities to the students. He came hard on those elements responsible for creating trouble in the smooth functioning of educational institutions, and hinted at launching accountability process against such practices.
Farooq Sattar said teachers, who were appointed on permanent basis in OPF schools about one and a half year ago, are still awaiting appointment letters. “I would turn stern on the mafia which is creating problems for the teachers….I will first correct certain matters and then move ahead,” he maintained. Commenting on the OPF housing schemes in various cities, the minister said efforts are afoot to have public-private partnership for this purpose with Government standing as guarantor.
He said that investment will be attracted through Overseas Pakistanis Consortium and government will make every possible effort for providing best accommodation facilities. Farooq Satter expressed firm resolve to do efforts for overseas Pakistanis so to provide them better opportunities when they reach back their home.
Responding a question about OPF scheme in Zone-V Islamabad, he said upto 2000 plots have been reserved for overseas Pakistanis of which around 1200 are done during his tenure that reflects confidence of the people on the government and also on him.
To a question about delay in this particular scheme, the minister allayed the concerns of investors and said their money would not go in vain, assuring government would fully facilitate them. He said considerations are underway to provide even better health and insurance facilities to overseas Pakistanis, giving them a lucrative environment on coming home. Farooq Satter said that up to 70 Welfare Assistants would be appointed at airports after approval from Prime Minister to facilitate overseas Pakistanis coming to country or leaving it.
He held out assurances that compensation would be made to those remaining genuine affectees, who suffered losses during Iraq invasion of Kuwait. Kohistan bus firing incident a conspiracy: MNA: Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs from Kohistan Mahboobullah Jan has termed the Kohistan bus firing incident an international conspiracy against Pakistan. Talking to Radio Pakistan, he said Pakistan is situated at a very important geo-politically location in this part of the world and every major power eyes on it. He said Pakistani media and intellectuals should play their role to foil international conspiracies by spreading awareness among masses about the importance of the geography of Pakistan and international conspiracies.
Replying to a question, he said the people of Kohistan were not involved in the killing of people of Gilgit Baltistan in Kohistan. He said Karakoram Highway is passing through long unpopulated area and the government has now decided to deploy patrolling guards to make the entire highway safe.
