Action plan to reintegrate overseas Pakistanis

Adviser Khokhar says around 600,000 expatriates returned to Pakistan during the last two years

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ombudsman Secretariat has tasked the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis with formulating an action plan for the reintegration of returning overseas Pakistanis. Assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been sought in this regard.

“Over the past two years, a surge has been witnessed in the number of overseas Pakistanis returning to their homeland, especially from the Middle East,” said Senior Adviser and Grievance Commissioner for overseas Pakistanis at Federal Ombudsman Secretariat Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar.

Khokhar said, “Currently, Pakistan lacks a mechanism for monitoring returning overseas Pakistanis.”



Around 600,000 expatriates returned to Pakistan during the last two years and a majority of them were from Saudi Arabia, he added.

“In view of the development, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and its allied departments have been directed to devise an action plan for reintegration of returning overseas Pakistanis,” Khokhar said. “Once completed, the action plan will be submitted to the government for approval and effective implementation.”

The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation and the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment have also been directed to formulate salient features of the action plan, he said, adding that “on top of that, they will also maintain the data of returning Pakistanis, which includes occupation, pre-migration as well as during-migration work experience”.

He said the concerned departments have been directed to ensure appropriate guidance and replies to all the queries of returning Pakistani workers regarding their reintegration along with provision of guidance on investment and business opportunities in Pakistan. A report in this regard has also been sought, he added.