‘National Emigration Policy’ sails through NA committee

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD) on Thursday unanimously approved the country’s first-ever ‘National Emigration Policy’.

The policy encompassed promotion of safe, orderly and regular export of manpower to other countries, improved welfare services for expatriates and engagement of Pakistani diaspora in national development.

It also contained an action plan and policy response, evolved after identifying key challenges to the promotion of emigration, and regulating the welfare process for the expats, in addition to the engagement of overseas Pakistanis in the national development.

The meeting, chaired by Sheikh Fayyazud Din, was briefed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing about the present status of Sohail Ayaz's case, who had been incarcerated for allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting a number of children in Pakistan.

The official requested the committee chairman to summon officers of the immigration department and other departments concerned. The chair asked the committee secretary to summon all the relevant departments in the next meeting for briefing on the case.

The committee members underlined the need for increasing the number of the community welfare attaches (CWAs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to ensure swift resolution of the expats issues.

Secretary OP&HRD division Hashim Popalzai told the committee that the government had increased the number of the CWAs in Saudi Arabia to six from four, while other options were also under consideration, including increased engagement with the community in the GCC.

Syed Javed Husnain urged early release of prisoners incarcerated over petty crimes in the GCC countries. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto urged the ministries concerned to step up diplomatic efforts to ensure early return of the Pakistani expatriates facing difficulties to resume their jobs and studies.

Popalzai said the ministry had recently taken up the issues of Saudi-based Pakistani workers with the relevant minister in the Gulf state and requested him to extend the expiry date of their visas. He added that Saudi Arabia had agreed to Pakistan’s request for enhancing the number of flights.

The committee was also briefed about the functioning of the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC). The NIRC informed the body that it had disposed of 10,736 and 8,633 cases during 2019 and 2020, respectively.