The Board of Governors meeting (BOG) of Overseas Pakistan Foundation (OPF) on Wednesday approved establishment of one window facilitation desks at all the major international airports of the country to facilitate Pakistani diaspora. The facilitation desks are being established on the directives of the Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis, Federal Ombudsman.
Addressing the meeting, the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Pir Syed Saddarudin Shah Rashadi said Pakistani expatriates are playing a vital role in improving the economy of the country and they deserve special attention.
He said that provision of more facilities and solving problems being faced by overseas Pakistanis is the top priority of the government. The minister directed the quarter concerned to gear up their ongoing projects and provide maximum facilities and assistance to Pakistani expatriates and their families.
The Board accorded its formal approval to a proposal to link the OPF Housing Scheme Zone-V through the Gulburg Greens Housing and Residential, a project of Intelligence Bureau Employees Co-operative Housing Society. This link road will not only shorten the distance by many kilometres as presently the OPF scheme is being approached via Japan road, the new link will also increase the market-value of the scheme.
The meeting was held at OPF Head Office and was chaired by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Pir Syed Saddarudin Shah Rashadi. The meeting was attended by Federal Secretary Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Khizar Hayat Khan, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Managing Director OPF, Habib-Ur-Rehman Khan, Financial Advisor Ministry of Finance, Dr Alamdar Hussain Malik, Joint Secretary Ministry of Defence Masood Hussain, Additional Director, State Bank of Pakistan, Moinuddin and Overseas Board Members including Syed Tayyab Hussain, Engineer Usman Khan Tarakai, MNA, Masud M. Khan, Muhammad Asghar Qureshi, Raja Liaqat Ali, Syed Qamar Raza, Muhammad Akram Ayoub Chaudhry and Tariq Sidiqui.
The meeting reviewed the progress of various welfare activities and development projects being carried out for welfare of Pakistani expatriates and their dependants. The progress report on the actionable points of last BOG meeting was also examined. The meeting also reviewed the progress report regarding development works at OPF Housing Scheme Valley Zone-V, Islamabad, OPF Housing Scheme Raiwind Road, Lahore, OPF Housing Scheme Chittarpari, Mirpur (AJK) and other ongoing projects of the Organisation and appreciated efforts of the management for gearing up the development works on the projects. The matters pertaining to OPF educational institutions were also discussed during the meeting.-PR