Commission: ‘Overseas Pakistanis are national ambassadors’

CM says commission will play pivotal role in solving their problems.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) would play a crucial role in helping non-resident Pakistanis overcome the challenges confronting them.

He was speaking at the inaugural meeting of the commission in his capacity as the chairman of the OPC. It was decided that 36 district committees would be established across the Punjab under the auspices of the commission that would include a DPO and a CPO. The committees would be chaired by an overseas Pakistani.



An official present at the meeting told The Express Tribune that upright overseas Pakistanis would be appointed chairmen of district committees to help non-resident Pakistanis overcome the challenges confronting them including land grabbing and problems with customs at ports of entry. He said a web portal would also be established to enable them to file complaints online. The official said a helpline would be established for the same purpose. He said that it had been proposed that a complaint should be redressed within a month.

The commission was constituted after the passage of a bill by the Provincial Assembly. Afzaal Bhatti has been appointed as the first commissioner of the OPC and Shaheen Khalid Butt has been appointed as its vice-chairman. The chief minister said the commission would play a crucial role in helping non-resident Pakistanis overcome the challenges confronting them. He said the commission had been given constitutional sanction and the government would provide it with all kinds of support. Sharif said he would personally monitor the commission’s work.

The chief minister said overseas Pakistanis were ambassadors of the nation and the commission had been established to solve their problems. Sharif said the OPC had been empowered to address the complaints of overseas Pakistanis in the Middle East, Europe and America among other regions. He said the commission would strive to effectively address their problems. Sharif said no stone should be left unturned in this regard. He said district committees would be established under the auspices of the commission. The chief minister said advisory councils composed of overseas Pakistan would also be established. He said immediate action would be taken on complaints received by the commission and he would personally review steps taken to redress complaints lodged.

Commissioner Afzaal Bhatti assured the chief minister that the OPC would live up to his expectations and work according to his vision.

Women Development Minister Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din, Overseas Pakistanis Commission Vice-Chairperson Shaheen Khalid Butt, Provincial Assembly Members (MPAs) Mian Tariq, Mansha Ullah Butt and Rana Liaqat Ali were also present on the occasion.

National consensus:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the national consensus over the war against terrorism was ‘auspicious.’ He said extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary measures. The chief minister said it was necessary to rid Pakistan of the menace of terrorism to transform it into a peaceful and prosperous nation. He said it was binding on every citizen to participate in the war against terrorism as it could only be won through national unity and popular support.

Sharif was speaking to MPAs on Tuesday. He said the quick implementation of the National Action Plan would restore order in the nation. The chief minister said the nation would be rid of terrorism at all costs. He said the progress, stability and survival of the nation was incumbent on eradicating terrorism. The chief minister said this had to be done to bequeath coming generations with a secure Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2014.