ISLAMABAD: As many as 4.1 million Pakistanis have been working in different countries and sending millions of dollars in foreign exchange to the country.

This was said by Minister for Overseas Sadruddin Shah Rashdi while briefing the Senate standing committee on overseas Pakistanis at the parliament house on Tuesday.

He said that demand for skilled workers was high, but Pakistan was deficient in such manpower to meet the foreign requirement.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Baz Muhammad Khan, underlined the importance of overseas Pakistanis and directed officials concerned to improve the working of the ministry and its subordinate departments including Employees Old-age Benefits Institution, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation and Bureau of Immigration.

He said overseas Pakistanis had been playing an important role in the economic growth of the country through their remittances and their problems should be solved on a priority basis.

The committee stressed that properties, factories and businesses of expatriate Pakistanis should be provided full protection and all facilities should be extended to them on their return.

Senator Rehman Malik suggested that severe action should be taken against those involved in human trafficking, especially those sending children for camel race to the Middle East. Fake agents were sending people illegally to different countries besides bring involved in drugs smuggling and such people had become a source of embarrassment for the country abroad, he said, adding that strict action should be taken against such elements.

Those who attended the meeting included Senators Najma Hameed, Nighat Mirza, secretary of Overseas Pakistanis Khizar Hayat Khan and officials of the ministry concerned and different organisations associated with it.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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