ISLAMABAD: Legal heirs of overseas Pakistanis who die in a foreign country will get Rs300,000 aid from the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF).

This was decided by the OPF board at its meeting on Thursday.

Earlier, destitute families of overseas Pakistanis who died abroad received Rs250,000 as one-time financial aid.

The meeting decided to hold a convention of overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad next year to promote positive image of the country.

“The aid is granted under the Financial Aid Scheme,” OPF Managing Director Habibur Rehman Khan told Dawn.

The meeting decided to increase annual budgetary allocation for the scheme from Rs200 million to Rs240m. About 800 families of overseas Pakistanis will be provided the aid this year.

“The number of beneficiaries of the scheme is increasing as the amount for the scheme is being gradually increased,” the OPF chief said.

The board resolved to use the potential of Pakistani diaspora to promote positive image of Pakistan, he said.

“To address concerns of Pakistani expatriates and to attract them to invest in Pakistan, the board decided to hold a convention of overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad next year,” Mr Khan said. Prominent members of Pakistani diaspora, including businessmen, philanthropists, professionals and investors, would be invited from different parts of the world to participate in the convention, he added.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, secretary of the ministry Khizar Hayat Khan, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue Nisar Mohammad Khan.

Participants of the meeting said that overseas Pakistanis were an asset because of their contribution to the national economy, role in development of the country, spirit of patriotism and potential as a bridge to the outside world.

The minister said that the government wanted to utilise the potential of overseas Pakistanis for development of the country.

Pakistani expatriates deserved special attention, he said and added that provision of better facilities to them and solution of their problems was a priority of the government.

The OPF board also reviewed the progress of welfare and development activities launched for the benefit of overseas Pakistanis and their dependants.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2016