Overseas Pakistanis problems should be solved on priority:OPC Commissioner Afzaal Bhatti

Lahore: Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has said overseas Pakistanis are strengthening Pakistan’s economy by sending money to their homeland so their problems should be solved on priority. He said that establishment of Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) was a welcoming initiative of Chief Minister Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif to solve their problems.

He was addressing a seminar organized by Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Government of the Punjab and PU Directorate of Students Affairs at Al Raazi Hall here on Monday. Commissioner Overseas Pakistanis Afzaal Bhatti, Vice Chairman Captain (r) Khalid Shaheen Butt, senior analyst Dr Mujahid Mansoori, Dr Ajmal Niazi, Prof Naeem Masood, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Mujahid Kamran said that a large number of overseas Pakistanis were laborers and facing problems of serious nature inside and outside the country and the government had taken an initiative to resolve their problems. He said that we were in a state of war and we must not be afraid of terrorists because life and death are in the hands of Allah but we must remain vigilant and alert. He said that Nato agencies were responsible for all terrorist activities in the world but these incidents were being linked to the Muslims and Pakistan and we must counter this propaganda.

Addressing the ceremony, OPC Commissioner Afzaal Bhatti said that action would be taken and anti-corruption proceedings would be initiated against the public servants who would show negligence in resolving the problems of overseas Pakistanis.  He said that there would be an Advisory Council consisting of Overseas Pakistanis residing in different countries and committees would also be set up at district level in Pakistan. He said that bureaucracy, police, prosecutor general and officials of other departments were on board to address the grievance of overseas Pakistanis.

OPC Vice Chairman Khalid Shaheen Butt said that overseas Pakistanis remain worried about their country and their all interests were associated with Pakistan. Taking special interest in resolving the problems of overseas Pakistanis, he said, Punjab CM and the Prime Minister had set up the commission and had empowered OPC.

Dr Ajmal Niazi said that overseas Pakistanis were a great asset for the country and they were facing problems because malfunctioning of our institutions. Later, a question-answer session was also held.