Police stations to be set up for overseas Pakistanis, says CM

Shahbaz Sharif reviews performance of Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Punjab

LAHORE: The Overseas Pakistanis’ Commission, Punjab is taking steps to safeguard the interests of Pakistanis living abroad, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday.

He was addressing a meeting to review the performance of Overseas Pakistanis’ Commission, Punjab.

“No one will be allowed to usurp the rights of Pakistanis living abroad or grab their properties. There is a need for collective efforts to ensure the rights of overseas Pakistanis and to resolve their problems. Problems of Pakistanis living abroad will be resolved on a priority basis. They will be provided political, legal and moral help,” he said.



The meeting decided to set up ‘overseas police stations’ for helping Pakistanis living abroad. The chief minister said that it was responsibility of the government to resolve the problems of overseas Pakistanis and a commission had been set up for this purpose. “We will establish overseas police stations to redress the grievances of overseas Pakistanis. The police stations will be set up in areas which have a large number of people living abroad,” the CM said.

The chief minister directed the IGP to immediately take steps to establish the police stations. “After the establishment of the police stations, front desks will also be set up at airports to resolve problems of Pakistanis returning to the country,” he said.

The CM said that cases pertaining to Board of Revenue should be decided on merit. “Justice must be ensured in all such cases. An effective strategy should be adopted for early disposal of cases of corruption and embezzlement,” he said.

Shahbaz Sharif said that DCOs and DPOs should also participate in meetings of Overseas Pakistanis’ Commission, Punjab.

“There should be an effective coordination between all government departments and institutions for resolving the problems relating to Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Punjab,” the CM said.

He said that the chief secretary would preside over a meeting of the Overseas Pakistanis’ Commission, Punjab every two months. “I will review the efficiency of the commission on quarterly basis,” he said.

The CM said that 76 seats had been allocated on merit for the children of overseas Pakistanis in medical colleges. The chief minister appreciated the performance of IGP and Overseas Pakistanis’ Commission, Punjab Additional Director General Capt (r) Mobeen with regards to the disposal of cases relating to police. Commissioner Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Punjab Afzaal Bhatti briefed the meeting about the performance of the commission.

The chief secretary, the IGP, the additional chief secretary and the Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Punjab Vice Chairman Capt (r) Khalid Shaheen were present in the meeting.

Bab-i-Pakistan

The CM presided over a meeting on Saturday to review progress on the Bab-i-Pakistan project. Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq was also present. The chief minister said that Bab-i-Pakistan was being constructed in the memory of those who rendered sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2016.