Soup to nuts: BKIA to have one-stop shop for overseas Pakistanis

Adviser to federal ombudsman says desk to be inaugurated on Aug 31

PESHAWAR: As many as 7.5 million overseas Pakistanis send in remittances worth Rs18 billion. Over 2.9 million returned to their homeland while 3.5 million departed via different airports in the country this year, as of June 15.

In a bid to facilitate them, specific desks have been set up at airports in most of Pakistan’s major cities and Peshawar is certainly not lagging behind. The facility will be inaugurated at the Bacha Khan International Airport on August 31.

This was said by Senior Adviser to Federal Ombudsman Hafiz Ehsan during a meeting at BKIA’s conference room on Saturday, Ehsan said BKIA is one of the country’s busiest airports in terms of receiving overseas Pakistanis. Over 0.25 million people arrived at the airport until June 15, he said.

Flanked by BKIA Manager Tahir Sikandar, Duty Terminal Manager Syed Latif Shah and others, he said, “The desks have already begun work at airports in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.”

These people face numerous problems including the lack of Pakistan International Airlines flights, verification of documents and customer service at airports and embassies, he added. The adviser said the baggage clearance process should be smooth and hassle-free. He maintained any airline that delays operations will be penalised.

“An independent website will be set up to address the issues they face during Hajj. Every agency will pitch in.” Ehsan said the government is in touch with other countries and embassies have been directed to collect data regarding Pakistanis imprisoned abroad.

Representatives of different agencies also appraised Ehsan of the stringent security checks that passengers have to go through since the BKIA is situated within the limits of the cantonment area.

Speaking on the occasion, Sikandar said the domestic lounge will be moved to another building which will add to the system’s efficiency. “Internet coverage will also be extended to the lobby.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2015.