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OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS
Hundreds of thousands of
Pakistani citizens from various parts of the country have been
living abroad for employment or businesses. These Pakistanis are
not only enhancing the good name of the country with their skills
but are also sending hard-earned foreign exchange to Pakistan.
They have been playing a vital role in the economic stability of
their country. Regrettably, to this day no Government in the
country has paid any attention to solve their problems. These
Pakistanis face tremendous difficulties in obtaining passports,
visas and acquiring travel documents from the Pakistani Embassies
and High Commissions abroad. In particular, the behaviour of the
Pakistani staff posted in the Embassies and High Commissions is
most unfriendly and discourteous. It is also a general complaint
that these Embassies and High Commissions do not offer any help
to any overseas Pakistanis in hardship. On the other hand, even
in Pakistan no Government has ever produced a concrete plan to
take advantage of the services and expertise of Pakistanis
working abroad. The Government has not taken any concrete
measures for housing and residential projects to attract overseas
Pakistanis to make investments. As a result amongst these
Pakistanis there has been a great deal of unrest.
MQM wants there to be a definite
plan and program to solve the genuine problems of overseas
Pakistanis and to get maximum benefits from their services and
abilities. The overseas Pakistanis can play a positive role in
the progress and prosperity of the country. In this regard it is
essential that steps are taken to remove all the shortcomings
existing in the Pakistani Embassies and High Commissions abroad.
It should be noted that to solve the problems of overseas Pakistanis, there exists a Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis but only the Government officials, top bureaucrats and other people who have permanent links with the establishment seem to benefit from this ministry. MQM wants steps to be taken to ensure that this Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis is not abused, fulfils its proper role and solves the problems of Pakistanis living abroad.