Endorsement of visas by Saudi Consulate: POEPA authorised for dropping passports in boxes

Minster for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah has agreed in principle, to authorise Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA) for dropping passports in boxes for endorsement of visas by Saudi Consulate by scrapping ad hoc arrangements.
Sources said that Minister for Labour and Manpower held a high level meeting with delegation of Poepa and other group of overseas promoter 'Lion Group' in his chamber in Parliament House on Monday to seek views on arrangement of dropping passport in Saudi Embassy for endorsement of visas. Secretary Labour and Manpower Arif Azim and Central Chairman Poepa Syed Habib Ali Shah and former chairman Poepa Aqeel Awan attended the meeting.
The Poepa delegation informed the Minister that ad hoc arrangement was made due to cancellation of licence of Poepa in 2006. "But Poepa has been effective since 2008 and, therefore, now it should be authorised as legal body to drop passports in Saudi Embassy for endorsement of visas," Poepa delegation maintained.
Since 1993 to 2006, Poepa, a representative body of the Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) was authorised for dropping passports in drop boxes for endorsement of visas by Saudi Consulate. The meeting was informed that Poepa was a legal body which maintained accounts and registered with Ministry of Commerce.
Lion Group of overseas promoters raised concern that Poepa could exploit them after being authorised to drop passports in Saudi Embassy for endorsement. "Poepa delegation offered to update list of all those passports on its website to ensure transparency which will be dropped to Saudi Embassy," sources said adding that any aggrieved party could monitor the list and approach Bureau of Emigration in case of any complaint.