PESHAWAR: A group of overseas Pakistanis on Sunday criticised the government for failure to ensure their return to different countries, mainly to Saudi Arabia, for resuming their duties, and feared that in case of further delay they would lose their jobs.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club here, the people led by Faisal Khan of Buner said PIA had increased the airfare manifold and the poor labourers were unable to purchase the tickets.

He said majority of the workers were associated with different companies in Saudi Arabia playing vital role in strengthening the national economy through sending foreign exchange, but the government was least bothered to facilitate them.

Faisal Khan said the overseas Pakistanis had been struggling for the past about one week to get tickets, adding tickets were available in the black at about Rs150,000.

“The PIA staff was wasting our time despite the fact that we have already purchased the return ticket,” he said, adding visas of many workers had expired.

He said most of the workers had sold household items and jewellery for purchasing tickets.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2020