ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday approved various measures tofacilitate the expatriate Pakistanis besides directing the departmentsconcerned to submit a workable plan to remove hindrances in sendingremittances through e-solutions.
In a follow-up meeting of the briefing by Ministry of Overseas Pakistanisand Human Resource Development, the prime minister directed all departmentsconcerned to provide speedy mechanisms for ease of sending remittancesthrough legal channels.
The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to PM on Overseas PakistanisSyed Zulfiqar Bukhari, Special Assistant to PM on Media Iftikhar Durrani,secretary to PM, secretary finance, secretary overseas Pakistanis and humanresource development, chairman FBR, chairman NADRA and other seniorofficials from Sate Bank of Pakistan, FIA and Civil Aviation Authority.
The prime minister emphasized that the PTI government was fully cognizantof the problems faced by overseas Pakistanis in sending remittances andissues of retaining their legal properties in Pakistan while they wereabroad to earn livelihood.
The prime minister said the government was working on fast track basis toresolve their problems. He said the overseas Pakistanis were an asset tothe country who could play very important role in improving the financialcondition through remittances.
He directed the Ministry of Finance, Federal Board of Revenue, State Bankof Pakistan and NADRA to jointly present a workable plan for removinghindrances in sending the remittances through e-solutions. It was alsodecided to bring legal reforms in the civil and criminal laws to recoverthe properties of overseas Pakistanis under illegal occupation.
Establishment of special courts for these cases was also discussed.
The prime minister stated that labor belonging to lower-income group wasalready burdened for leaving their homeland to earn livelihood abroad inharsh conditions, therefore it was responsibility of the government tofacilitate and provide all necessary facilities and incentives to them andtheir families back home.
The meeting discussed various incentives including tax exemptions onremittances and several social welfare schemes for expatriates. The primeminister emphasized that strict action would be taken against the illegaloccupants of the properties owned by overseas Pakistanis. In this regard,directives would also be issued to provincial governments and law enforcingagencies.
The meeting took various decisions for immediate implementation includingthe establishment of connectivity between Ministry of Overseas Pakistanisand Human Resource Development and NADRA Database to maintain a record ofoverseas Pakistanis and labour abroad.
The meeting decided to reduce the biometric verification charges for labourgoing abroad from Rs. 45 to Rs. 10 per verification. It was decided thatthe family tree record of Pakistanis working abroad would be shared withthe ministry concerned so that their families were provided with welfarebenefits of health, education and accommodation.
The meeting declared the NICOP for emigrants and workers as optional.Directions regarding clarification would be issued through newspaperadvertisement. To bring further clarity, necessary legal amendment wouldalso be initiated. Free of charge connectivity between Bureau of Emigrationand Overseas Pakistanis and FIA has been established that would beoperational by October 17. – APP