Participants of a seminar titled ‘Enhancing the Role of Overseas Pakistanis in Nation Building’ here lauded the services of millions of Pakistanis living and working abroad in tiring conditions.
Speaking on the occasion, OPF Board of Governors Chairman Barrister Amjad Malik said that it was observed that export of manpower from Pakistan has been more expensive due to imposition of taxes by the Middle Eastern countries due to decline of oil prices or otherwise, but this reality was undesirable and International Labour Organisation should take notice as this was another form of exploitation by the employers.
‘We need to recognise changing role of overseas Pakistanis in current scenario. About time that we go beyond enhancing their role in our national life and redefine them role played by them all together,’ he said.
Seminar also offered 18 key recommendations to alleviate the sufferings of overseas Pakistanis. These include formation and maintenance of integrated data bank of overseas Pakistanis, social coverage and economic rehabilitation of returnee migrants, increased role in political and policy making institutions, developing a mechanism for exercising of right to vote, encouragement to invest in CPEC and other entities economic corridors, strengthening of collaboration between government agencies and department, raise awareness about potential for investment in Pakistan and to create one window facilitation counters for overseas investment’.
‘We need to update our research on issues related to overseas Pakistanis in depth,‘ said Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Secretary Khyber Hayat Khan. He also said that the collaboration among relevant government agencies and international organisations for sharing of data and formulation of policies should be strengthened to get desire results.
Seminar was attended by OPF Managing Director Habib-ur-Rehman Gillani, Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis, Hafiz Ahsan Ahmed Khokhar representatives of ILO, Board of Investment and other relevant organisations, representatives of various countries, academia and policy makers.