Govt taking steps to facilitate overseas Pakistanis: NA told

ISLAMABAD, Mar 09 (APP): Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Muhammad Awn Chaudhry informed the National Assembly that the government was taking several measures to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, including financial assistance programmes, complaint management systems and steps to address delays in documentation such as identity cards and passports.

Responding to supplementary questions during the Question Hour, the minister said that matters related to delays in issuing identity cards fell under the Ministry of Interior. However, he added that the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) had introduced transparent welfare programmes for expatriates.

He said the OPF provided financial assistance of Rs400,000 to overseas Pakistanis or their families in case of death abroad. In addition, a grant of Rs25,000 was given to help cover expenses if a Pakistani citizen died or met with an accident outside the country.

According to the minister, 2,297 overseas Pakistanis had been facilitated during the current year, with expenditures reaching Rs946.7 million under different welfare schemes.

He said the OPF also operated an online complaint management cell through which 6,340 complaints had been received from overseas Pakistanis. Around 4,000 complaints had already been resolved, he added.

Responding to another supplementary question about difficulties faced by expatriates in obtaining identity cards due to documentation requirements such as NTN registration, the minister said the government had set up facilitation centres through the Overseas Commission to speed up the process of issuing documents, including identity cards and passports.

He also informed the House that the Prime Minister had formed a committee to facilitate Pakistanis returning from Gulf countries, particularly in view of the changing regional situation.

Referring to the recent Overseas Pakistanis Convention, the minister said the government had prepared an 18-point agenda aimed at improving business opportunities and administrative facilitation for expatriates.

The minister further told the House that Pakistani students studying in Iran were being assisted in returning home through the Taftan border. He said about 150 students had initially arrived, while around 700 students entered Pakistan over the last two days.

He added that Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Iran had established a facilitation centre to guide students stranded in different cities and ensure their safe return. Arrangements were also being made to address transportation issues and provide necessary support.

Earlier, responding to another question about the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), the minister said around 1.5 million workers were registered under the scheme.

He said the institution generated about Rs 80 billion in annual collections, while investment returns also contributed nearly Rs 80 billion.

He added that the EOBI received around Rs 60 billion annually, of which about 60 percent — nearly Rs 60.5 billion — was spent on employee insurance and welfare benefits in various cities, including Karachi, Sukkur and other parts of Sindh and Punjab.

The minister said detailed data regarding contributions and expenditures in different cities could be shared with members of the House upon request.