Latest news with #MinistryofOverseasPakistanis
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
135,000 Pakistanis seek asylum abroad
Listen to article It was revealed during the meeting of a parliamentary panel that around 135,000 Pakistanis have sought political asylum in western countries in the last two years. The committee was also told that 52,000 Pakistanis have been deported from neighboring countries including Iran during the same period. The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis held a meeting on Tuesday. During the session, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the director general of passports revealed that 125,000 Pakistanis in Europe and more than 10,000 in the United States had applied for political asylum. He informed the committee that some countries do not jail Pakistani nationals who arrive there through illegal means but immediately repatriate them to Pakistan. "34,000 Pakistanis were deported from Iran last year. The passports of deported individuals have been blocked, while those involved in criminal activities are being given strict punishments," he said. The DG noted that over 10.3 million skilled Pakistani professionals are currently working abroad. Earlier, officials from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis stated that Saudi Arabia has reduced the number of visas issued to Pakistanis and tightened the eligibility criteria. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) briefed the committee that since 2023, over 52,000 Pakistanis have been deported, including 5,000 beggars deported from Saudi Arabia.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Hike in EOBI pensions from May 1
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed on Wednesday that the age of Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) beneficiaries will be determined on the basis of the CNIC record instead of matriculation certificate, and the pensioners will get a raise in their pensions from May 1. The committee was also told that EOBI disbursed Rs2.79 billion among 5,131 fake pensioners. A meeting of PAC under the chair of Junaid Akbar vetted the audit paras of the Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis. During the meeting, the audit officials informed the committee that EOBI had disbursed Rs2.79 billion to ineligible or fake pensioners. According to the audit report, out of approximately 800,000 pensioners, the data of over 5,000 individuals was found to be incorrect. Pensions were issued to people whose dates of birth did not match between their CNICs and matriculation certificates. In some cases, men under 60 and women under 55 were receiving pensions, in violation of eligibility criteria. The audit officials revealed that age manipulation was used to grant pensions to more than 5,000 unqualified individuals. EOBI officials informed the committee that the institution's fund currently stands at Rs600 billion. They added that there are around 10 million businesses in the country, and any business with at least 10 employees is required to register with the EOBI. They said they verify the age of the beneficiaries through CNIC and other sources. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis secretary said that pension cases would be settled now on the basis of the CNIC, adding that EOBI pensions will be raised from May 1. PAC chairman Junaid Akbar Khan said there should be a standard criteria for determining the age of the pensioners. The EOBI chairman said they would now issue pensions based on CNICs using NADRA's data. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis secretary requested a month's time to rectify issues. The committee directed the ministry to investigate the matter and submit a report within a month. Audit officials also disclosed that EOBI had not recovered Rs2.47 billion from 2,864 institutions. The EOBI officials said these institutions did not register their full workforce and did not pay their due amounts. EOBI has recovered Rs1.53 billion but still working on recovering Rs1 billion, partially because some recovery cases were stuck in court. The committee chairman directed the EOBI officials to complete the recovery within a month.
Arab News
13-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistani businessmen in Saudi Arabia eye investment in key sectors back home
ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistani businessmen in Saudi Arabia expressed interest in investing in the tourism, agriculture, food processing and trading sectors of their country of origin on Sunday, as they arrived in Islamabad to attend the inaugural Overseas Pakistanis Convention. Nearly 20 Pakistan-origin businessmen from the Kingdom are participating in the program that kicked off today and will conclude on April 15. Organized by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the convention aims to recognize the contributions of expatriates to the national economy and address their concerns. The government has accorded state guest status to all the attendees, with special arrangements made to welcome them at airports. 'We have keen interest in investing in Pakistan's tourism infrastructure, including hotel development and facility upgrades, as well as in value-added agriculture, food processing and general trading sectors such as import-export,' Faisal Tahir Khan, a Saudi-born Pakistani businessman whose family has lived in the Kingdom for the past seven decades, told Arab News. 'At the moment our main platform, the Pakistan Investment Forum [PIF] in Saudi Arabia, is also working to build a Pakistan commercial hub in the Kingdom where we will be bringing the top 100 brands of Pakistan there,' he added. Remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis are crucial for the country as the nation navigates a tricky path to recovery from a prolonged economic crisis that drained its revenues in recent years. Pakistan expects to receive more than $35 billion in remittances until the end of this fiscal year in June, with its nationals in Saudi Arabia being top contributors to the country's economy. Khan maintained the Kingdom offered a robust investment ecosystem, driven by its Vision 2030 initiative to reduce its oil reliance and transform economy, saying the authorities in Riyadh are promoting equal opportunities for all investors. Ali Khurshid Malik, another businessman from the Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia, emphasized local companies should not miss the opportunities emerging in the construction sector in the Kingdom with the launch of projects like NEOM City. NEOM City is a flagship project under Vision 2030, aimed at building a futuristic, sustainable urban hub driven by innovation and technology. 'The NEOM project offers a major opportunity for Pakistani investors in both construction, where Pakistan excels in materials and labor, and in smart city technologies, where its IT sector can play a key role,' he told Arab News. Malik, who also serves as the finance secretary with PIF, said overseas Pakistanis with businesses in Saudi Arabia could help connect relevant companies in Pakistan, such as those providing construction materials like sanitary supplies, ceramics and marble with Saudi firms. 'There is also a demand for skilled workers, particularly in areas like smart electronics for smart homes,' he noted. He also pointed out Pakistan needed to improve its certification systems to provide the Kingdom with certified skilled workers, including specialists in electronic modules, electronic systems, as well as electronic and software engineers. Raja Shahid Raza, a Riyadh-based Pakistani entrepreneur, said the convention would provide a valuable opportunity for overseas Pakistani investors, businessmen and community members to engage directly with government institutions, while also boosting their pride as their contributions are being recognized by the country. 'As the top management of all key institutions that overseas Pakistanis interact with will be present, it will be a great opportunity to voice our concerns and receive direct responses from them,' he said, adding it would also connect different local businesses with the overseas community. In a statement, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said the convention aimed to address expatriates' issues and recognize their contributions. He informed the country's top leadership, including the prime minister and the army chief, will also address the visiting business representatives.
Express Tribune
05-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM directs Green Channel restoration for expats
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis to restore the Green Channel initiative to facilitate overseas Pakistanis and also formed a body to accord special recognition to distinguished diaspora members contributing to national development. In his address to the Overseas Pakistanis Global Foundation Convention, he acknowledged their invaluable role as ambassadors of Pakistan across the globe. To honor the significant contributions of Pakistan's top tax payers, exporters, and investors, the PM announced that they would be officially recognized as Ambassadors At Large.
