ISLAMABAD: Acting President Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani on Tuesday called on overseas Pakistani businesspeople to invest in Pakistan and contribute to national progress, during a meeting with Pakistani businesspeople based in Bahrain at Parliament House.

Mr Sanjrani said the environment of doing business in Pakistan is conducive and overseas Pakistanis should benefit from investment opportunities in various sectors.

The delegation of businesspeople was led by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Mohammad Sajid, and informed the president of problems facing the Pakistani community in Bahrain, particularly with regard to the issuance of visas to Pakistani nationals.

Mr Sanjrani said he would ask the concerned ministries to take up the issue with the Bahraini government and resolve them as soon as possible.

OPF board of governors director alleges corruption

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, Jahangir Minhas, director of the Overseas Pakistani Foundation’s (OPF) board of governors, said overseas Pakistanis are assets to the country and their families need the government’s attention and should be provided the utmost facilities.

He said the OPF board of governors was appointed by the previous government, but the bureaucracy removed the board members in the last days of the government, which was an injustice.

Mr Minhas, who was among those removed, said the fired members obtained stay orders and in the last court hearing the court decided to refer the case to the federal government. He said he is not updated on the validity of the stay order but said that until he receives any copy he will remain the director of the board of governors in light of previous orders.

Mr Minhas made allegations against the OPF management, including massive irregularities and corruption in the foundation’s affairs.

He said 70pc of the OPF’s budget was being used on administrative affairs, which was an injustive with overseas Pakistanis.

He added that 5,000 kanals of land was purchased on Japan Road in Islamabad at a high price and the development contract was not awarded to the lowest bidder – who offered to develop the society for Rs600 million – but to another contractor for over Rs2 billion.

He called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to remove the incumbent secretary and the OPF managing director in the foundation’s greater interest.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2018