ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (APP): The meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development on Monday chaired under Chairmanship, Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, was briefed about the staff skills certificates are accepted in all European Union countries.
During the briefing on implementation of earlier decisions regarding employment and emigration, Officials briefed the Committee that soft skills certificates can be obtained through five-day physical and online training programs, said a press release.
Officials stated that 480,000 registered people are currently studying under the program and that free soft skills certificates are being provided. A total of three million rupees management cost has been spent on this program.
During the meeting, while responding a question raised by a Member about purpose and benefits for providing soft skills. Officials responded that the UAE had raised concerns about chaos involving Pakistanis, stating that many people do not know how to properly use social media etc. Officials added that technical education is being provided to 453,000 students and that soft skills training includes procedural discussions and information about host country rules.
The committee appreciated the instant program and for further clarification summoned the CEO, NAVTTC for the next meeting. OPF officials also briefed the Committee, stating that OPF’s responsibility begins after a person goes abroad.
Officials stated that money belonging to people who died abroad or in Pakistan is collected from the respective country and handed over to their legal heirs. They informed that 750,000 people go abroad for work every year, and since 1971, around 12 million people have gone abroad. Officials clarified that if a citizen is issued a protectorate two or three times, those individuals are also included in the data. OPF officials said their data is shared with the FIA, but the FIA does not provide OPF with data of Pakistanis returning from abroad.
The committee member Nasir Mehmood asked who maintains data of Pakistanis imprisoned in jails, to which officials replied that the data is available with the Embassies. Senator Shahadat Awan asked about the establishment of courts for overseas Pakistanis. While replying to that the officials informed that courts have been established for overseas Pakistanis at the subordinate court level, including the Islamabad High Court.
Shahadat Awan asked how many cases are pending or decided. Officials said they would call for details of Punjab cases and present them to the Committee. Officials confirmed that courts for overseas Pakistanis have been established in Islamabad and Punjab. They also stated that overseas Pakistanis will receive free treatment in case of illness in Pakistan and that up to 50 percent discounts are provided on security services, hotels and laboratories. Officials further informed that a convention of overseas Pakistanis will be held in Pakistan every year.
It was stated that there are no housing societies for overseas Pakistanis in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Senator Shahadat Awan noted that housing schemes for overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad and Lahore are still pending. Officials said that seized lands have been recovered and that no school scheme proved profitable. They added that OPF losses have been reduced by 50 percent in one year. Officials informed that PTCL land is available in Sindh and in future a joint housing scheme can be developed on it.
The committee sought a briefing on all other projects, including School Park residential projects for overseas Pakistanis, in the next meeting. The committee directed that all briefings be presented in the next session. Officials highlighted various immigration issues and stated that foreign exchange is expected to reach 42.5 billion dollars in the financial year 2025–26. They also informed that undeclared restrictions by the UAE, Oman and Malaysia are causing visa difficulties.