The successive governments have failed to materialise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Government of Malaysia over 13 years ago for export of Pakistani manpower. Khizar Hayat Khan, Federal Secretary for Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, revealed this on Wednesday before the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistani and Human Resources Development.
He said Pakistan had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian government in 2003 for sending of Pakistani manpower but since then no Pakistani Minister visited Malaysia to materialise the MoU despite huge opportunities for Pakistan manpower there.
He maintained at present over 70,000 Pakistani labourers are working in Malaysia, and there is a capacity of more 1,000,000 Pakistani workers to work there. He said that he recently visited Malaysia and held meetings with his counterpart as well as other relevant officials regarding the MoU signed with the Malaysian government. Khan said that there is a dire need to seize the employment opportunities in Malaysia as employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia is reducing day by day. "I was assured by the relevant officials in Malaysia that the Government of Malaysia would soon lift the ban imposed by them on Pakistani security guards," he added.
The committee, which met with Senator Baz Muhammad Khan in the chair, recommended the government to enhance number of Community Welfare Attaché's (CWAs) and legal representatives in the countries having Pakistani labour in order to facilitate overseas Pakistanis.
The senate body also recommended the government to reduce taxes on Pakistani workers going abroad and expressed serious reservations over an increase in fee of National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
The parliamentary body also summoned NADRA Chairman Usman Mobeen in the next meeting to explain the circumstances that led them to increase charges of NICOP by overseas Pakistanis. Senator Saeed ul Hassan Mandokhail said NADRA increased NICOP fee which has caused huge burden over Pakistani workers going abroad.
Barrister Amjad Malik, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) informed the meeting that the Chairman NADRA promised that he will consider decrease in NICOP fee. He also told the committee that the government is setting up 100 member's advisory council and will organise overseas Pakistani convention in 2017. Malik further said that the present government is taking various steps to solve problems of overseas Pakistanis. He said that around 13,000 Pakistanis are languishing in various jails across the world and their release can be ensured by increasing number of lawyers.
The committee also recommended solving matter of salaries of Workers Welfare Board Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on immediate basis.
Following which, the Secretary Ministry of Overseas Pakistan said the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has so far not provided the list of employees of Workers Welfare Board. "Without proper record it would be difficult to take a final decision on the matter of salaries of Workers Welfare Board KP," he said. Senator Abdul Qayyum said that the committee has prepared a detailed report on problems of overseas Pakistanis therefore the Chairman OPF Board of Governor should review the report to curtail problems of overseas Pakistanis.
Rehman Malik said that the Chairman Board of Governor OPF should conduct a study to examine the functions and role of OPF. Overseas Pakistanis are sending billions of foreign remittances but this was not spent for their facilitation, he added. Senator Nighat Mirza said that dozens of Pakistani workers, who are trapped in Saudi Arabia's Dammam city are facing problems therefore the government should take efficacious measures to assist them.