Declining oil prices may not impact on remittance flows as the major oil producers have built-up high foreign-exchange reserves to deal with such eventualities. This was stated by Dr Ishrat Hussain, former Governor of the State Bank and currently Dean, IBA Karachi at the inauguration of the Centre on International Migration, Remittances and Diaspora (CIMRAD) at the Lahore School of Economics, according to the spokesperson of the Lahore School of Economics
Dr Hussain also said that while other parts of the world from Europe to Japan are seeing a declining population, Pakistan's youthful population may be an asset to the world if properly invested in. He talked about the "brain drain" and said that in the new globalised economy it is in fact a "brain circulation", which pays dividends to both sending and receiving countries. He encouraged graduates to get experiences to become the best professionals they can be-including gaining international exposure. He stressed the need for further studies using new data bases, for example BISP Score Card to analyse the impact of remittances on poverty, education, and health care.
Jose Lopez-Calix, senior economist at the World Bank stated how the Centre can help study and how remittances can do better for the economy in terms of investment. He said an interesting area of study is whether they are truly able to help remove a family from poverty. Lopez-Calix also stated programmes the World Bank is considering regarding remittances and growth including issuing of diaspora bonds.
Enrico Ponziani, Chief of Mission International Organisation for Migration (IOM), stressed how important it was for migrants to be able to protect themselves and their contributions to their home country should be acknowledged. He said, "It should be realised that while first generation immigrants tend to send money back home future generations are more likely to invest in their new countries and are less likely to see themselves as Pakistanis". Ponziani said that while there are a few countries where the Pakistani diaspora are concentrated, there are migrants in 140 different countries. He said a migration information centre could help future migrants make informed decisions and curtail trafficking-which will allow for safeguarding of their rights and more remittances to their home countries.
Dr Rashid Amjad, Director of the newly established Centre said that remittances are increasing at a 15 percent growth rate not just in Pakistan but globally. Pakistan received an amount of $16 billion as remittances in the year 2013-14, which are equivalent to 6 percent of GDP. These are expected to reach $18 billion in 2014-15. The Pakistani diaspora is estimated to be 7 million world-wide but could well be higher. Dr Naved Hamid, Director, Centre for Research in Economics and Business (CREB) and Regional Director at the International Growth Centre reflected on how remittances affect every aspect of the economy and how the actual rate remittances can be as high as 10 percent. Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhry, Rector Lahore School of Economics, declared the Centre open while hoping that its work will highlight the problems, desires, and prejudices faced by the Pakistani diaspora. Dr Chaudhry said that this will help migrants truly become citizens of the world while also allowing the Lahore School to truly serve the international community.