Senate Body Hails Overseas Ministry's 100-day Performance

The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD) on Tuesday hailed the100-day performance - specially the digitization of ministry's functioning - to ensure transparency and liaison with stakeholders and diaspora

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jan, 2019 ) :The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD) on Tuesday hailed the100-day performance - specially the digitization of ministry's functioning - to ensure transparency and liaison with stakeholders and diaspora.

The Committee, chaired by Senator Hilal-u-Rehman, expressed the confidence in Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Syed Zulfikar Bukhari and called for additional measures for ensuring maximum facilities to Pakistani Diaspora abroad.

The meeting was attended by Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah, Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi, Shaheen Khalid Butt, Najma Hameed, Nighat Mirza, Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasar, Sassui Palijo and other officials of the departments.

During the meeting, Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah said the Ministry has come up with the true implementation of 'Naya Pakistan' - an election slogan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - and emphasized the need to focus more on human development for sending manpower abroad, especially in technical domain as the international market had witnessed a paradigm shift with the dawn of information technology.

He also appreciated the minister for being regular in the Senate meetings.

Senator Samina Saeed said the return of British Airways was also another feather in the minister's cap as previously, the company had suspended its operation in the country for over a decade.

Secretary OP&HRD Pervaiz Junejo, presenting department report on 100-day work , said they had brought about significant changes in the institution including automation of its attached departments, abolishing of National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistani (NICOP) condition for outgoing labour, opening of Qatar visa facilitation center and launching of Naya Pakistan Calling Portal.

"The Ministry takes lead in implementing Prime Minister's 100-day reform agenda to ensure quick redressal of issues pertaining to expatriates and their children by achieving almost all set targets," said the SAPM Zulfikar Bukhari.

Highlighting his Ministry's achievements in the last 100 days, the Special Assistant briefed that the Ministry had introduced major reforms to bring about revolutionary changes in public service.

He said the recently installed Call Serzameen, emigrants biometric verification system, Naya Pakistan Calling and E-governance System, establishment of Qatar Visa facilitation center and working on a digital challenger bank to encourage legal channels for sending remittances, were the major initiatives by his Ministry.

The secretary said they had also planned to enhance the amount of pension for pensioners of Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) from Rs 5,250 to 6,500.

The Ministry's digital 24/7 complainant cell - 'Call Sarzameen' - in its office to swiftly address the forwarded complaints of expatriates pertaining to the Ministry, was another hallmark, Zulfikar Bukhari apprised the meeting. He said "Now I can directly monitor the status of a complaint and other official matters.

Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Managing Director (MD) Dr Amir Sheikh said Naya Pakistan Calling would provide a gateway to the professional Pakistani diaspora to share their prowess and experiences for national development.

Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment Director General Kashif Noor highlighted another achievement of ministry and informed the members that each intending emigrant at the respective Protectorate of Emigrants Office was being verified/registered through emigrants biometric verification system. "It will provide the Ministry a database to access complete and accurate information of outgoing Emigrants and Licensed Overseas Employment Promoters (OEP), he added.

The official website of the Ministry was also overhauled to ensure better communication among stakeholders and to public its performance, the OPF MD said.

Moreover, deliberating on a way forward for the acquittal of Zahir Hussain Case who was languishing in foreign jail for a road accident in which four foreigners lost their lives, the committee also directed the ministry to forward his case to Inter Ministerial Committee.

The body also proposed to mobilize the notable expatriates for raising donation to pay his blood money to the deceased party.

The body also formed a sub-committee under the convenership of Senator Yaqoob Nasarto identify the location for the establishment of two educational institutions in Zhob - which werenot getting green light from the ministry due to certain reasons - for workers' families