The country received $11 billion in terms of remittances during the fiscal year 2011, witnessing an increase of 24 percent during the last three years. A parliamentary panel was told on Monday that the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), had sent over 2.6 million labourers abroad from 2001 to 2011, while after its establishment on October 01, 1971, it had so far sent 5.5 million people to different countries.
The NA body expressed concern over the delay in construction of BEOE tower in Islamabad and sought report from the concerned authorities within two weeks. The relevant government functionaries were also asked to apprise the committee about the extension of F-8/2 Girls College, Islamabad, within two weeks.
The committee also recommended construction of a medical college along with teaching hospital and nursing school in federal capital for the children of Overseas Pakistanis, saying that expatriates contributed a lot of foreign exchange to the country's economy. The NA panel was also informed that during the last three years, 2,300 Pakistanis were sent to South Korea and they contributed Rs 300 million in the form remittances.
About construction of OPF Housing Scheme Zone-V for overseas Pakistanis, the officials informed that 51 percent of development work on the scheme had been completed while the remaining would be done within 9-10 months. Meanwhile, the committee has appreciated the performance of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Girls College F-8/2 in the recently announced Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) examination results.
The result of the college was 100 percent while five of its students were also among top 30 students of the board. The NA body also recommended increments in the pay of college teachers, appreciating the efforts of its principal Shahina A Masood, for taking the institution to a distinct position. Shahina said that total 114 students appeared in matriculation examinations this year, of which 67 students, clinched A+, 35 were placed in A and 11 secured B grade. Shahina said that according to merit list of the board, five students of OPF Girls College secured the following positions: Marzia Akbar 15th, Sarah Saleem 16th, Oswah Khan 27th, Kinza Arshad 28th, and Yusra Khan 29th.