Expat Pakistanis Urged To Strengthen Themselves Politically At Host

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2017 ) : Chairman board of Governors of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Barrister Amjad Malik Saturday asked overseas Pakistanis in Belgium to strengthen themselves politically in the host country.

He was addressing a gathering of Pakistani diaspora in Luxembourg, said a message received here. Barrister Amjad asked the Pakistanis to take active part in the local politics and remain united beyond political affiliations back home.

He also asked the community to respect local laws and make positive contribution in the host society. Barrister Malik said the present government had given mandate to the Board of Governors of OPF to bring profound reforms by taking practical steps.

He said the aim of his visit was to listen to the problems to diaspora and ascertain suggestions and recommendations with a view to improve services being rendered by the government for 10 million overseas Pakistanis around the globe, including estimated 2.2 million in Europe.

He said that the overseas Pakistanis in the EU maintained more contact with their homeland than those who live elsewhere. Pakistani expatriates and their children influenced their homeland culturally and economically by maintaining close ties, travelling to Pakistan and investing there, he added.

Barrister Malik said, "Pakistanis living in Belgium should be considered ambassadors of Pakistan who are always willing to help Overseas Pakistanis in Belgium and their relatives in Pakistan. The members of the Overseas Pakistani living in Belgium are well-respected in their villages and towns in Pakistan, because they have at some point assisted their friends and family to settle in Belgium, or have invested in industry or provided employment opportunities he added.

Malik stated that the welfare of Overseas Pakistanis was of very great significance for Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. That was why his government not only gave representation to overseas Pakistanis in Board of Governors of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation but also nominated an Overseas Pakistani as its chairman, he added.

He said "We expanded and shared this representation with the help of Pakistan missions to 136 Overseas Pakistanis coming from different walks of life and different region of the world. These members will represent their community and inform the government of Pakistan of their grievances." In an interactive session following the address, Barrister Malik replied to the questions of community members from different walks of life who attended the meeting in a large number.