OPF, Board of Governors (BOG) in its 130th meeting held on Thursday has resolved to use potential of Pakistani diasphora to promote positive image of Pakistan. In order to address concerns of Pakistani expatriates and to attract them to invest in Pakistan, the BOG of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation has decided to hold convention of overseas Pakistanis at Islamabad in the year 2017. Prominent members of the Pakistani diasphora including prominent businessmen, philanthropists, professionals and Pakistani investors will be invited from all over the world to participate in the convention.
The Board also recommended to increase amount of Financial Aid Scheme from Rs. 250,000/- to Rs. 300,000/- per family with effect from the next financial year to provide more relief to destitute families of overseas Pakistanis who died abroad. It was also recommended to increase the budget provision for Financial Aid Scheme from Rs. 200 million to Rs. 240 million per annum to provide the said relief from the next financial year.
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Pir Syed Saddarudin Shah Rashadi chaired the Board meeting. The meeting was attended by Federal Secretary Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Khizar Hayat Khan, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Managing Director OPF, Habib Ur Rehman Khan, , Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue, Nisar Muhammad Khan, Financial Advisor (OP&HRD), Ministry of Finance, Dr. Alamdar Hussain Malik, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Masood Hussain and prominent overseas Board Members including Sheikh Salahudin, MNA, Engineer Usman Khan Tarrakai, MNA, Syed Tayyab Hussain, Ex. MNA, Masud M. Khan (Denmark), Muhammad Asghar Qureshi (Saudi Arabia), Raja Liaqat Ali (UK), Tariq Siddiqui (USA), Syed Qamar Raza (UK), Muhammad Akram Ayoub Choudhry (UK) and Mian Munir Ahmed Hans (UAE).
During the meeting, it was noted that overseas Pakistanis are an asset for Pakistan and their contribution to the economy of Pakistan, their role in the development of their host governments, their spirit of patriotism, their potential as Pakistani bridge to the outside world, make them uniquely placed as a stakeholder in the development and prosperity of Pakistan. Accordingly, the present government attaches highest importance to address their concerns and to attract them to invest in Pakistan. The government desired to use potential of Pakistani expatriates to promote positive image of Pakistan.
Addressing the meeting, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Pir Syed Saddarudin Shah Rashadi said that the present government desired to utilize potential of overseas Pakistanis for development of the country. He said that Pakistani expatriates are playing vital role in improving the economy of the country and they deserve special attention. He said that provision of more facilities and resolution of problems being faced by overseas Pakistanis is the top most priority of the government.
The Board reviewed the progress of various welfare and development activities being carried out for welfare of overseas Pakistanis and their dependents. The progress report on the actionable points of last BOG meeting was also examined.
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