ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistanis deserve special attention for resolution of their grievances as they play vital role in strengthening country’s economy, Managing Director Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Habib-ur-Rehman Gilani said Thursday.
He said the OPF is working for the welfare of Pakistanis expatriates and their dependents in all walks of life including provision of financial assistance, educational, health and housing facilities. MD OPF said that overseas Pakistanis’ contribution in strengthening country’s economy could not be ignored.
He said that OPF always stood by with Pakistani diaspora and their dependents. “We will never let them alone in their difficult times.” He said that OPF introduced financial aid scheme in 1980-81 to provide financial assistance to the destitute families of overseas Pakistanis in the even of death or disability of overseas Pakistanis, said a message received here. “It is aimed at helping the bereaved families to overcome their initial financial problems soon after the demise or disability of their earning members,” he added.
He informed that OPF board of Governors has recently increased its financial aid scheme from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh per family of deceased Overseas Pakistanis and Rs 3 lakh for disabled persons.
The managing director informed that OPF has established Online Complaint Management System for early resolution of grievances of Pakistani expatriates and their dependents. To get more representation from relevant stakeholders, he said OPF is establishing a hundred members Overseas Pakistanis Advisory Council (OPAC) comprising forty percent representation from Gulf region, Thirty percent from Europe, ten percent from United States of America and remaining from rest of the world.
He also informed that Overseas Pakistanis Convention would be held in December this year at Islamabad. Member OPF, Board of Governors, Chaudhry Noor ul Hassan , Tanvir and Pakistan’s Counsel General at Dubai, Summer Javed were also present on the occasion.