LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has entered into an agreement with two NGOs to facilitate the deported persons.

The agreement was signed by FIA Director General Wajid Zia and Akhuwat Foundation chairman Amjad Saqib here on Friday. Initially, this project will be launched at Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar airports.

Under the agreement, the Akhuwat Foundation will provide facilities to deportees like provision of interest-free loans, skills development training. “In addition to the psychological and economic rehabilitation of the deportees, they will also be provided with the facility of the Fountain House (rehabilitation centre).

Another agreement was signed with Allahwala Trust Chairman Shahid Lone who will provide free edibles to deportees at the airport. In the last 10 years, over half a million Pakistanis who left the country through illegal means, overstayed their visas or denied refugee status have been sent back.

Yaqoob said: “Pakistan is among one of the top countries with the highest number of deportees. Most Pakistanis are deported from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Greece and Spain. Before being sent back, these illegal immigrants are either kept in jail where they suffer from malnutrition and psychological shock. Or they have been captured on their journey to the new country and suffer from injuries and shock.”

He said there was a dire need to reintegrate these deportees back into the social fabric so that they did not make more attempts to jump borders or inspire any more youth to do the same.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2020