ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: As many as 16,304 people were registered with the regional offices of Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment under the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis for foreign employment in October.

According to a statement issued here, during the corresponding month of the previous year, 11,380 persons proceeded abroad for employment thus registering an increase of 43.26 per cent.

Moreover, the revenue of Rs20,678,400 was generated from the emigrating workers and transferred to the national exchequer, whereas Rs17,119,200 was collected as welfare fund and transferred to the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation. An amount of Rs6,287,342 was distributed as death and disability compensation/claims to 29 affected families in October.

The intending emigrant workers are also advised to get a copy of the Foreign Service Agreement duly registered with the Protector of Emigrants office alongwith copies of power of attorney and demand letter from their respective overseas employment promoters, in their own interest before their departure.

They may also obtain the receipt of amount paid to the concerned overseas employment promoters in respect of foreign employment.

Those interested in foreign employment are warned to remain careful about illegal agents and sub-agents who deprived innocent people of their money on the pretext of providing them employment abroad.

The trend of drug-trafficking is on the rise. The middle eastern countries have maintained death sentence for drug smugglers. The intending migrant workers are therefore advised to refrain themselves from the menace of drug trafficking while going abroad for employment in their best interest.