Overseas Pakistanis assured of protection to life, property

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif have special love for overseas Pakistanis and will take every step for the welfare and security of their life and property and the security of their families in Pakistan so that they could be able to work hard and improve the image of Pakistan in world.
This message was conveyed to the overseas Pakistanis working in the Middle East by a joint delegation of Punjab Board of Investment and Trade and Overseas Pakistani Commission (OPC) Punjab led by OPC Vice-Chairman Khalid Shaheen Butt, OPC Commissioner Afzal Bhatti, OPC Director Police SSP Syed Ahmed Mobin and PBIT DG Ms Lubna Pathan who visited Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar on a six-day visit.
According to the PBIT spokesperson, the chief minister had instructed the PBIT and OPC to visit Middle East and ensure overseas Pakistanis about protection of their property and life of dear ones at home.
Part of the agenda was also to facilitate them in finding trade and investment opportunities in Pakistan.
The delegation called on Pak-Dubai Business Council at a meeting where PBIT Director General Lubna Pathan briefed the Pakistani community about the opportunities available in Pakistan for investment, the delegation ensured the overseas Pakistanis about the government support to investors. Vice-Chairman and Commissioner OPC briefed the audience about the framework designed for the overseas Pakistanis to resolve their issues.
In Dubai, the delegation met a large number Pakistanis at a dinner arranged by Consul General of Dubai where the community apprised the delegation of their problems and gave suggestions to resolve their issues. The delegation ensured them that the government was working on solving their problems on priority basis.
In Bahrain, the delegation met Commerce Ministry of Bahrain’s officials. The Bahrain officials briefed the delegation that Bahrain companies were interested in the sectors like pharmaceutical, meat, cement, education, healthcare and energy for investment. They showed interest in recruiting people from Pakistan for the growing hospitality industry.
President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bahrain briefed the delegation about the businessmen’s interest for investment in Pakistan in the agriculture sector, pharmaceuticals meat import and infrastructure related to meat export.
Lubna Pathan gave a detailed presentation on the investment opportunities available in Punjab and Chairman OPC informed the audience about the legal framework and physical infrastructure developed for the overseas Pakistanis. The Pakistani community and the Bahraini businessmen showed keen interest in investing in Pakistan particularly in Punjab.
The delegation visited Pak-Qatar Business forum and briefed the audience about the opportunities in Punjab. Pak-Qatar Business Forum president Ahmed Husain briefed the delegation about investment opportunities for Pakistani Businessmen in Qatar and apprised them of the intentions of his forum for investing in many fields in Pakistan. President Pakistan Welfare Forum Qatar Riaz Ahmed Bakali sought assistance from delegation for welfare of Pakistani community living in Qatar.
Pak-Qatar Business Forum suggested that Pakistan should form a task force to leverage on the opportunities arising with regard to 2020 football world cup.
The delegation also visited Pakistani embassy in Qatar and met the ambassador where the Pakistanis issues were discussed.