The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis has created Foreign Exchange Remittance Card to facilitate all those who remit money through legitimate banking channels. The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis met here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Senator Hilal-ur-Rehman in which the ministry's progress was appreciated. The committee recommended that measures must be taken to spread awareness about Foreign Exchange Remittance Card that will benefit overseas Pakistanis immensely.
The agenda of the meeting included briefing on the New Zealand attacks and the ministry's role while dealing with such cases, welfare mechanism of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation and status of plots of overseas Pakistanis in Mehran Town, Karachi.
The committee lauded the stance taken by New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern and said it appreciates the measure of the New Zealand government to award 2 year resident visas to family members of the victims. The committee condemned the attack in Sri Lanka on Easter as well.
Samina Abbas from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the committee regarding the measures taken in such situations. She said that crisis cells are set up and evacuation plans are drawn. She further stated that the ministry coordinates with the home country police, Pakistan High Commission and the victim families.
The committee recommended that it would be more beneficial if officers from within the mission coordinate with the Pakistani community in such situations since they would have access to those who are at influential positions. The committee sought details of injured Pakistanis in the New Zealand attack.
While discussing the welfare mechanism of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, the committee was informed about various initiatives pursued by the ministry.
The committee was informed of the Foreign Exchange Remittance Card that was created to facilitate all those who remit money through legitimate banking channels. This card provides the user with duty credits that can be used while visiting Pakistan. The ministry, however, agreed that to popularise this method of money transfer, it is imperative to decrease the duration of transfer.
While discussing the status of Mehran Town plots, the committee formed a sub-committee to probe the matter.
Senator Sassui Palijo took up the matter of 2,000 Pakistanis languishing in Saudi jails. She said that 200 prisoners have been released; however the fate of 1,800 prisoners hangs in the balance. She called for effective policymaking and coordinated efforts of both the government and the opposition to facilitate them. She quoted the recent report published by the Justice Project Pakistan.
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