SAHIWAL: Pakistan Baitul Maal Director General Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh says 4,100 families of Pakistani workers stranded in Saudi Arabia have been provided financial assistance of Rs210 million during the last 25 days.

“Each family has been given Rs50,000 cheque across Pakistan,” he told Dawn on phone from Islamabad.

Reports say around 9,000 Pakistani workers were not paid salaries or others service benefits by three Saudi companies — M/S Saad Trading and Contracting Company (520 workers) and Al-Khobar and Saudi Oger Limited (8,000 workers). These workers are living in different camps in eastern region of the Kingdom.

During the first week of August, the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia had provided grocery items to the stranded workers who complained of inadequate arrangements.

The prime minister directed the PBM to provide Rs50,000 financial assistance to the “next of kin” of each Pakistani worker. Barrister Abid said the PBM got a detailed list of stranded workers from the embassy and tracked families to make payments.

He said the home addresses of 400 families had not been traced and efforts were being made to reach them.

Ahmed Raza Shah, district officer, PBM, informed Dawn that after doing verification cheques were provided to the workers’ families. Around 200 such families belong to Sahiwal. He said 64 cheques had been given in Okara, 36 in Pakpattan and 100 in Sahiwal.

A woman, Najma Bibi, confirmed receiving Rs50,000 cheque from the District Baitul Maal office. Muhammad Saleem (108/9-L), Muhammad Usman (72/12-L), Muhammad Arif (Chichawatni), Khadija Bibi (184/9-L), Muhammad Sharif (Harrapa City) and Muhammad Ramzan (48/GD) also are among the recipients of money.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2016