BEING a Pakistani resident of a foreign country, I am very hurt with the current controversy on the subject. First of all, we did not leave the country for pleasure. We have been forced to look for opportunities abroad for survival, as for the last few decades, Pakistan has been one of the worst managed nations of the world with rampant corruption, lawlessness, poverty and lack of jobs and opportunities for educated youths.

Similarly, corruption in the education sector has destroyed the system and many went abroad for higher education. Many others also left for some genuine reasons like medical and security. As such, those living in countries which allow dual nationality have acquired it for legal requirements and to purchase property.

Now, we are supporting our families and send money to Pakistan, which has also enabled Pakistan to survive. So, we are as much Pakistanis or perhaps more, as we have left our relatives and loved ones and doing more for Pakistan than most of the Pakistanis living in Pakistan.

Incidentally, the government of Pakistan also supports this and it has a ministry exclusively for manpower export, i.e., we are an export commodity.

We should be differentiated from the real rogues who have acquired dual/foreign nationality while staying in Pakistan by acquiring business visas or other tactics using the money earned through corruption, bribes, stealing of national wealth or illegal transfer of foreign exchange sent by us, and taken the dual nationality to hide their ill-gotten fortune and escape any prosecution later on. They have not worked or earned money abroad.

These people should be investigated and inquired on how they got foreign nationality and assets, and how their children are sent to foreign universities, etc., and must be prevented from government jobs or getting into assemblies, as they are the real source of our nation’s problems. We are forced to live abroad because of them.

GHULAM MOHAMMED Karachi