Quick exit: Foreign relief workers given marching orders
The government order will be applicable on all foreigners working in different parts of the country in their individual capacities, the source said.
All concerned persons have been told that their visas will not be extended after December 30, sources added.
Islamabad had sent letters to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) provincial officials to ensure that all foreigners, particularly US nationals, leave Pakistan within the stipulated time.
“Inform the FIA headquarters in case any of them try to prolong their stay under any pretext,” the letter directed the officials in the provinces. “They will have to leave Pakistan by December 30 as their jobs have been completed,” it added.
A senior official of the FIA, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) when contacted by The Express Tribune, confirmed having received the letter last weekend. He refused to explain the reason behind the federal government’s decision. “Yes we have received a letter to that effect,” he said, requesting anonymity.
Another source in the special branch of police, Peshawar, told The Express Tribune that a security concern may be the reason for the issue at hand.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chief has asked all foreign relief agencies involved in flood relief operations, including the UN aid workers, to discontinue their activities by January 30, 2011.
The NDMA chairman (retd) Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed has sent letters to all foreign NGOs and relief agencies asking them to pack up by the said deadline. In a letter faxed to the UN humanitarian coordinator the NDMA chairman said, “The national disaster management authority highly appreciates the support by the entire humanitarian community, including the UN and their lead coordination agencies during the relief operation for one of the worst natural disasters ever faced by a nation.”
“Keeping in view the magnitude of the disaster, it would not have been possible for the Government of Pakistan to manage the situation so effectively on its own, without help from the humanitarian community in delivering relief.”
“Currently, nearly five months later, we feel satisfied to note that the situation is approaching a stable stage very fast.”
“The government had decided to conduct relief activities till the end of January 2011, hence the humanitarian community, UN agencies and concerned clusters are advised to shut down their relief operations in the affected areas by January 31, with the exception of some areas of Sindh and Balochistan where water is still standing and people are unable to return to their homes.”
Details of the areas in question will be intimated to all concerned sections by the end of December, the letter concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2010.
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