Latest news with #SenateStandingCommitteeonOverseasPakistanisandHumanResourceDevelopment
Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
18,000 Pakistanis languish in foreign prisons: Senate body criticise ministry's half-baked efforts
ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee was left stunned on Friday after it was revealed that over 18,000 Pakistanis are languishing in foreign prisons, with little to no support from the government meant to protect them. Presided over by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was confronted with stark and troubling statistics: 417 Pakistanis imprisoned in China, 598 in Greece, 463 in Malaysia, 738 in India, 578 in Oman, 422 in Qatar, 5,297 in the UAE and a staggering 10,432 locked up in Saudi Arabia alone. The senator did not mince words, criticising the ministry's half-baked efforts and accusing officials of offering vague, incomplete data. 'This is not just a number. These are human lives,' he said. 'The government's apathy is disgraceful.' Despite repeated claims, there appears to be little meaningful action. While the ministry boasted about finalising prisoner repatriation agreements with 11 countries and ongoing discussions with 15 more, the committee demanded more than just diplomatic lip service. It urged the government to provide comprehensive profiles of the prisoners, detailing the nature of their alleged offences and the extent – or glaring absence – of legal assistance being provided to them. Even more glaring was the spotlight on the ineffectiveness of Pakistan's Community Welfare Attachés (CWAs) – officials stationed overseas to safeguard the interests of Pakistani expatriates. The committee grilled the ministry on how frequently these attachés visit imprisoned citizens and what concrete assistance they actually deliver. The responses, however, were vague at best, exposing a disturbing reality of CWAs pocketing hefty salaries after their appointments through political connections, all while failing to provide any meaningful support. Senator Kazim Ali Shah was blunt: 'There are zero welfare services for prisoners from Sindh. What exactly are these attachés doing besides drawing salaries?' Branding the CWAs a complete embarrassment and utter failure, the committee slammed their lacklustre performance and demanded they be held rigorously accountable through quarterly reviews. It also insisted they recruit local diasporas members to actually do some real work; exposing just how out of touch and ineffective this bloated, politically-appointed system has become. Meanwhile, hollow promises to support Overseas Pakistanis through special courts also came under fire during the meeting. Officials boasted that Punjab passed the relevant legislation last year, but Senator Shahadat Awan tore into the lack of transparency, absence of crucial data, and the glaring failure to establish even basic infrastructure like evidence-recording facilities. 'This law exists only on paper,' he remarked. 'It is yet another PR stunt while overseas Pakistanis wait endlessly for justice.' The ministry was given one month to produce a detailed report on pending court cases involving overseas Pakistanis – a move seen by many as long overdue. In a final attempt to salvage the session, the ministry officials listed a few initiatives: a five per cent quota in universities for children of expatriates and a pilot scheme in London to resolve property disputes through the Punjab Land Record Authority. The committee, unimpressed, advised the government to extend the property project to Islamabad but also warned that unless these initiatives move beyond announcements, overseas Pakistanis will continue to feel abandoned by their own country. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Grim prisoner stats abroad shock Senate panel
The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development on Friday deliberated on the increasing number of Pakistani prisoners abroad. Shocking details came to light during the meeting, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, regarding Pakistani prisoners abroad. The committee criticised the officials for providing inadequate information concerning the individuals. According to data from the ministry, approximately 417 prisoners are serving sentences in China, 598 in Greece, 463 in Malaysia, 738 in India, 578 in Oman, 422 in Qatar, 10,432 in Saudi Arabia, and 5,297 in the UAE, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada highlighted. He remarked that the data reflects the ministry's efforts towards the repatriation of prisoners. Officials apprised the committee that the Prisoner Repatriation Agreements have been finalised with 11 countries, while discussions are ongoing with 15 others. The committee recommended that the ministry should provide detailed profiling of the prisoners to understand the nature of the crimes they committed. It also inquired from the Community Welfare Attachés (CWAs) about how frequently they meet with the prisoners. Senator Kazim Ali Shah pointed out that no welfare services have been extended to prisoners from Sindh. The committee decided to review quarterly performance of the Community Welfare Attachés and recommended allowing them to hire local diaspora members to more effectively expand welfare services to Pakistani prisoners abroad. Discussing the performance of special courts established to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, the ministry informed the committee that Punjab has enacted the relevant legislation. However, Senator Shahadat Awan pointed out that although the act was passed in 2024, no data has yet been provided regarding the number of cases processed in Punjab or in any other province.
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt taps EU demand for skilled labour
The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was informed on Thursday that Europe was projected to require 450 million skilled workers over the coming years, and Pakistan is moving to position its workforce to meet the demand. Similarly, a labour agreement has already been signed between Italy and Pakistan, while a similar deal with Belarus is expected soon. During the session, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Dr Arshad Mahmood, told the committee that Belarus required approximately 150,000 skilled workers. Efforts are being made to send as many Pakistani workers there as possible, he added. Dr Mahmood further stated that Europe demands skilled labour, and Pakistan has initiated six-month specialised training programmes at five universities, including NUST, aimed at ensuring confirmed employment opportunities abroad upon completion. He revealed that Italy's interior minister visited Pakistan a day earlier and formally signed a bilateral agreement to recruit skilled labour from Pakistan. CEO Sehat Sahulat Programme Muhammad Arshad informed the committee that all Pakistani citizens were entitled to free medical treatment under the programme. For further details, he added, citizens can send their CNIC number to 8500 to access information about affiliated hospitals and other services. Separately, the director general of the Foreign Office briefed the committee that Pakistan has signed prisoner exchange agreements with eight countries, under which 185 convicted individuals have been repatriated.
Express Tribune
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UAE now offers 5-year visa to Pakistanis
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi, has announced that visa-related issues between the two countries have been resolved. Pakistani citizens can now obtain a five-year visa, according to a press release issued by the Governor's House on Tuesday. Al Zaabi, accompanied by Consul General Dr Bakheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi, met with Sindh Governor Karmran Tessori at the Governor's House. During the meeting, Al Zaabi invited the governor to visit the Visa Centre at the UAE consulate in Karachi. In December last year, a Senate panel had been informed that all Pakistani travellers to the UAE were required to undergo police vetting and verification. This development came after UAE authorities increased scrutiny of Pakistani visitors due to concerns over involvement in criminal activities, including begging. Weeks later, in another meeting on Jan 9, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was informed that UAE visas had been "unofficially closed" over concerns that some Pakistanis, after arriving on visit visas, were resorting to begging. "Visa issues have been resolved, Pakistanis can get a five-year visa," the Governor's House press release quoted Ambassador Al Zaabi as stating during the meeting. It added that the ambassador invited the governor to visit the UAE visa centre in Karachi. On the occasion, according to the press release, Tessori thanked UAE envoy for his country's investment in the province, especially in Karachi. The ambassador praised the ongoing projects under the governor's initiative at Governor House. Later, the UAE envoy planted a sapling as part of the tree planting campaign at the Governor's House and hoisted national flags of both the countries. He also recorded his impressions in the visitor's book, the press release concluded. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
