Overseas Pakistanis: About 6.7m working around the globe

ISLAMABAD: Approximately 6.7 million Pakistanis were working around the globe, remitting close to $3.6 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, including Pakistanis living and studying abroad, said an official of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis. He said the database of Overseas Pakistanis will be available online with international networking and having links with State Bank of Pakistan and National Database and Registration Authority. Replying to a question, he said a separate data of Pakistanis who had already returned from abroad and those who returning in future shall also be maintained with the purpose of utilising their skill and expertise. Remittances grew 9.16% in the first quarter of the current fiscal year to $3.6 billion against 3.3 billion received during the same period of previous fiscal year. To another question, the official said that Overseas Pakistanis Foundation was providing multiple services to the expatriates and their families. These include education, health, housing, economic rehabilitation of disabled returnee Pakistanis, transportation of bodies, assistance and pension scheme for overseas Pakistanis.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2012.