A four-member delegation of the European Union (EU) and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) held talks with Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) Commissioner Afzaal Bhatti and Vice Chairperson Shaheen Khalid Butt to sensitise the OPC officials about the EU and IOM program aimed at strengthening the reintegration mechanism for Pakistani returnees and to gain updated information about the initiatives of the OPC for the welfare of expatriate Pakistanis.
The vice chairperson and commissioner informed the members of the EU-IOM delegation that the innovative step of establishing the OPC was taken to secure the domestic rights of Pakistanis living abroad.
Since its inception, the OPC has performed exceptionally in resolving the complaints of overseas Pakistanis and 50% issues of the issues have been resolved amicably. Butt and Bhatti told the members of the visiting delegation that the OPC, EU, and IOM can work together for the management of migration issues and to provide assistance to migrants.
Members of the delegation apprised the OPC officials that the EU and IOM aim at enhancing community resilience by supporting locally lead community development projects. Delegation members said that it was encouraging that Punjab has taken a lead by establishing a dedicated institution for the welfare of expatriates. Certain proposals of rehabilitation of deported persons also came under discussion during the meeting.
The delegation included Inge Zorn (EU), Junaid Khan, Saima Amjad, and Saad Rehman (IOM), while OPC Director General Iqbal Bokhari, Additional DG Agha Yousaf and Admin Director Asad Naeem were also present on the occasion.