Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab’s Overseas Pakistanis Commission, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, has decided to set up overseas police stations to redress the grievances of overseas Pakistanis immediately.

Addressing the meeting here on Saturday, the chief minister directed the inspector general police to immediately implement the programme of establishing overseas police stations. After establishment of the police stations, front desks would also be set up at airports to resolve problems of Pakistanis returning to the country, he said.

He said that the commission had been set up to safeguard the hard-earned money of overseas Pakistanis as they were the ambassadors of country. He said no one would be allowed to usurp rights of Pakistanis living abroad or grab their properties. He said that there was a need for collective efforts to ensure the rights of overseas Pakistanis and to resolve their problems.

He said that the problems of Pakistanis living abroad would be resolved on priority basis and they would be extended all out political, legal and moral help. The chief minister said it was a responsibility of the government to resolve problems of overseas Pakistanis and a commission had been set up for this purpose.

Shahbaz further directed that the cases pertaining to the Board of Revenue and districts should be decided on merit. He directed that an effective strategy should be adopted for early disposal of cases regarding anti-corruption.  He directed that participation of DCOs and DPOs of the districts concerned in the meetings of Overseas Pakistanis Commission should be ensured.

He also said that there should be an effective coordination between the departments and institutions concerned for resolving the matters relating to the commission. He said that the chief secretary would preside over a meeting of the commission after every two months while he will review the efficiency (of the commission) on quarterly basis.

He said that 76 seats have been allocated on merit for the children of overseas Pakistanis in medical colleges. He appreciated the performance of the inspector general police and Overseas Pakistanis Commission additional director general with regard to dispose of cases relating to the police. Overseas Pakistanis Commissioner Afzaal Bhatti gave a detailed briefing on the efficiency of the commission.