Chairman Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari on Wednesday urged the Pakistani community to work for the better image of their country and stay away from political and ethnic divides. Addressing a gathering of Pakistani community in Kampala (Uganda), he appreciated their role in promoting Pakistan's relations with Uganda. Chairman Senate is in Uganda in connection with 126th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Bukhari acknowledged the contribution of Pakistani community in the increased remittances to the country adding the remittances are biggest support to Pakistan's budget and economy, says a fax message received here. Pakistani community members raised the issue of Pakistani prisoners in the Ugandan jails. Chairman Senate directed the Acting High Commissioner to get details of such Pakistani and send to the Interior Ministry for further action.
He advised the community to remain vigilant of human smugglers and extend full co-operation to innocent Pakistanis trapped by agents. In response to the request for opening of an embassy or consulate in Uganda, he promised to seriously look into the matter and directed the concerned authorities in this regard. With regard to the issuance of machine readable passports in Nairobi, he said that the Interior Ministry will be asked to expedite the process of establishing the requisite facility at Pakistan High Commission in Nairobi.