The Punjab government has constituted Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) to resolve the problems of Pakistanis living abroad and the commission has been granted complete administrative and financial autonomy, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing the first meeting of the commission via video link.
OPC Commissioner Afzaal Bhatti gave a detailed briefing regarding the performance of the commission’s achievement so far. The meeting also gave approval to setting up a panel of lawyers to pursue the cases of deserving overseas Pakistanis while giving go ahead to give internship to students of universities for assisting overseas Pakistanis.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that Pakistanis living abroad have promoted the image of the country through their hard work and no one will be allowed to grab their properties. He said that justice will be provided to overseas Pakistanis through solving their problems. He directed that the commission should work efficiently and dedicatedly for addressing the complaints of Pakistanis living in foreign countries. He further directed that advisory councils comprising overseas Pakistanis be constituted at the earliest and overseas Pakistanis having good repute be included in these councils. He said that district committees have been set up in 36 districts of the province for resolving problems of overseas Pakistanis. He said that information technology will soon be introduced in the commission and speedy measures will be taken for redressing the grievances of expats.
He directed that prompt justice be ensured to overseas Pakistanis. He said that the commission should fully benefit from the latest technology. In response to the proposal of setting up overseas police centres, he directed that a plan be presented to him for its implementation. He said that a comprehensive mechanism be evolved for the effective follow up, monitoring and implementation of the measures taken for resolving problems of overseas Pakistanis, adding that he will review the performance of the commission on fortnightly basis.
OPC Vice Chairman Khalid Shaheen Butt, Additional Chief Secretary Capt (r) Mobeen, OPC Director General (District Police) Khawaja Dawood, OPC DG and authorities concerned attended the meeting.