ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Zulfi Bukhari Tuesday denied visiting Israel on behalf of the government, while vowing to send a legal notice to the British think-tank propagating this rumor.

Speaking at a press conference here, Zulfi Bukhari once again denied the allegations against him, saying that he has never visited Israel and that false information was being spread about me.

He said that he was also blamed for spreading coronavirus through the Taftan Border, as if the country's borders operate on his command.

Talking about Pakistani workers in the Middle East, especially in the United Arab Emirates, he said there was a difference between labor and visitor visas.

He said we are working with the UAE on devising a formal visa mechanism.

He said our efforts resulted in terms of maximizing the benefits of the EOBI for workers who are registered under it.

He said through digitalization a proper crackdown will be initiated for those employers who do not register their workers.

The Special Assistant said he is trying to increase the EOBI pension from Rs8000 to Rs10,000 by raising the government's contribution and proper utilisation of its resources.

While talking about the Workers Welfare Fund, he said the government as per decision of the Council of Common Interest is trying to devolve it to provinces. He said a proper mechanism in this regard is being devised, so all provinces can get benefits of it.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020