Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Overseas Pakistani Foundation (OPF) board of directors (BoD) has suggested for observing ‘Overseas Pakistani Day’ on December 18 every year in recognition of their services and role in the national development.

The 134th meeting of BoD was held on Tuesday with its chairman, Barrister Amjad Malik, in the chair has directed OPF for evolving practicable strategy and taking solid steps to mitigate the sufferings of overseas Pakistanis.

The meeting was attended by State Minister for Privatisation, Muhammad Zubair, Ministry of Labour and Overseas Pakistani Secretary Khizar Hayat Khan, OPF MD Habibur Rehman Gillani and other high officials.

The board also approved the advisory council comprising overseas Pakistanis from every region to make the performance of OPF better.

On the occasion, Malik said that it is need of the hour to take measures on war footing basis to improve the condition of overseas Pakistanis so that drastic changes should be made in their state of affairs.

The OPF managing director presented the report of his recent visit to Saudi Arabia to resolve the issue of tangled Pakistanis there. He informed the board of directors that on the instructions of prime minister Rs 50,000 per head were distributed through Pakistan Baitul Mal among 5,300 affected Pakistanis in KSA.

The BoD also approved aid for education to the children of tangled Pakistanis in Damam. The board further gave sanction for the visit of OPF MD to Saudi Arabia to get first hand knowledge about the Pakistanis in prison there and shared his information with the board so that the matter for their release should be taken with appropriate authorities.

The meeting also mulled over the increasing of number of schools being run by the OPF to enhance the capacity of the children of overseas Pakistanis.

The board of directors directed OPF to compete all the housing projects within the stipulated period of time.