The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has called upon the ministry of petroleum and natural resources to provide gas connections to the residents of emigration tower. The committee met here on Friday under the chairmanship of Mir Aamer Ali Khan Magsi to get a detailed briefing on functions and performance of the Emigration and Overseas Employment and to discuss the progress and issues/problems of Overseas Employment Promoters.
The Director General, Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Pakistanis informed the committee that in 2015 to till now, 618,812 Pakistanis have proceeded abroad for the purpose of employment. The committee assured the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis that the issue of gas connection of Emigration Tower will be taken up with the petroleum ministry and gas supply to the residents will be ensured. The ministry assured the committee members that the issue of new registration of Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) should be taken up with the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia through the ministry of foreign affairs.
The committee recommended that the ministry may take steps for reduction of card fees at minimum charges and if possible overseas workers should be exempted from NICOP. The meeting also discussed the progress report pertaining to OPF Valley Zone-V, Islamabad and directed the authorities concerned to speed up development work at OPF Valley Zone -V, Islamabad.
The committee was briefed about the development work at the scheme and informed the participants of the meeting that major portion of development work has been completed. The meeting was apprised that effective measures have been taken to expedite development work and timely completion of the project.
The participants of the meeting expressed their reservations over delay in completion of development work at OPF Valley Zone-V and directed the authorities concerned to take all measures for early completion of the project for handing over the possession of plots to overseas Pakistanis. The meeting was attended by Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Chaudhry Abid Raza, Sabiha Nazir, Musarat Rafique Mahesar, Aliya Kamaran, Aisha and Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis & HRD, besides officials of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & HRD.