ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) has failed to protect the rights of expatriate Pakistanis as its own Board of Governor members and other high-ups have obtained plots in foundation’s housing scheme depriving many deserving applicants of their right to have a plot back home in the federal capital.

This was revealed at a meeting of the Senate standing committee on labour, manpower and overseas Pakistanis presided over by Senator Naeem Hussain Chattha here on Wednesday.

The Senate body directed the ministry to cancel all such plots immediately and allot them to genuine overseas Pakistanis.

The meeting took serious note of the allotment of plots to the members of the Board of Governor and other senior officials of OPF. The committee observed that the scheme was solely launched for expatriate Pakistanis and the officials of the foundation and members of its board were not eligible to have this facility.

The committee termed the overseas Pakistanis a valuable asset and urged the government to take steps for their welfare, so that they may feel comfortable and work efficiently to bring good name to their homeland.

Members of the committee, while having a briefing on the housing schemes launched for the overseas Pakistanis, observed that the development work on the Islamabad housing scheme should be expedited and the boundary wall should be constructed as soon as possible. They were happy to learn that contract has been awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), and directed the ministry that the project should be completed within the stipulated time.

The committee endorsed the view of the ministry and the OPF that increase in the fee for intending emigrants from Rs1,050 to Rs2,000 was inevitable due to the current level of inflation and price hike.