Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Muhammad Farooq Sattar has said that the government is working to reserve seats for the overseas Pakistanis in the parliament. The minister said this during his official visits to UK and Germany while addressing a large gathering of overseas Pakistanis, said a news release issued here on Wednesday.
Farooq Sattar also appreciated the due role of overseas Pakistanis for the development of the country. He said the Ministry is working on the formulation of National Policy for Overseas Pakistanis with the objective to better serve the overseas Pakistani brothers and to streamline various incentives and services provided to them by the government of Pakistan. The draft of the policy would be finalised in the next meeting of the OPF Board of Governors that is scheduled to be held in the mid of August.
Farooq said the overseas Pakistanis are the ambassadors of Pakistan and their role in the economic development of Pakistan is unmatched. The Foreign Exchange Remittances figure of US $8.9 billion in the last financial year, which is a clear proof of the love of the overseas Pakistanis for their homeland, he further added.
During his visit, the minister also threw light on the new housing projects being initiated for the overseas Pakistanis by the OPF. During the visit, the minister held extensive meetings with the representatives Overseas Pakistani Associations and the overseas Kashmiri community and assured them to resolve the problems and issues faced by them.
The minister appreciated the role of overseas Pakistanis in the revival of the economy of the Pakistan, through direct investment and remittances. In last financial year, Pakistan's Foreign Exchange Remittances touched US $8.9 billion, which is record in the history of the country. He requested the overseas Pakistanis to subscribe to Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) and send their remittances through normal banking channels.