March 7, 2002	Thursday	Zilhaj 22, 1422

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SYDNEY, March 6: Overseas Pakistanis, who use banking channels to remit their money back home, are being rewarded with duty-free allowance on their personal baggage, free issuance and renewal of passports on an urgent basis and separate counters for special handling at Pakistani airports.

At a later stage, special quota will be reserved for them in government colleges and universities and there will be an allocation of up to 2 per cent in initial public offering.

In due time, they will also be entitled to ballot of choice plots in public housing schemes at attractive prices, discount in auctions of industrial units by Corporate and Industrial Restructuring Corporation, and special allocation of shares in privatization of government owned entities.

The scheme was approved and launched in September by the investment wing of the Finance Division of the government of Pakistan to discourage the use of hundi and hawala systems and is perused by the foreign missions to encourage Pakistani expatriates to use normal banking channels for remitting money.

Also, the government of Pakistan has issued a Remittance Book that resembles the Pakistani passport in colour but is smaller in size. The passbook, that will keep the record of remittance, is distributed in Australia through Pakistani missions, Habib Finance Bank and Pakistani community organizations.

To avail the privileges, the remittance targets of $10,000 and $2,500 will have to be achieved that will give the right to have a Gold or Silver Remittance Card.