For smooth integration and economic empowerment of returning migrants, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) organized a ceremony where returning migrants were presented toolkits in the trades of electrician, plumber, carpenter, motorcycle mechanic and mason as an In-Kind support to help them start sustained self-employment.
The activity is part of OPF efforts to support returning migrants to make a new start in Pakistan and achieve sustainable employment.
OPF is implementing a program on economic reintegration of returnees in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Pakistan. It is commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development Germany, (BMZ) and is part of BMZ support for voluntary return & sustainable reintegration.
A Pakistani-German Facilitation & Reintegration Centre (PGFRC) has been established in OPF premises, Lahore with an advisory desk in OPF head office Islamabad. PGFRC is supporting and assisting returning migrants and the local population to have a sustainable source of income.
The ceremony which was attended by the Chief Guest, Syed Mustafa Haider, Director Welfare OPF, trade specific toolkits were handed over to 80 returning migrants as an In-Kind Support. These migrants have also completed comprehensive business development training from PGFRC.
Dr. Mansoor Zaib Khan, Head of PGFRC, GIZ officials, members of Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Overseas Pakistanis & HRD, Members, OPF Board of Governors, senior government officials, representatives of international organizations and civil society representatives also attended the ceremony.
Syed Mustafa Haider, Director Welfare OPF said the ceremony was a testament to the commitment of the Government of Pakistan which considers overseas Pakistanis as its roaming ambassadors abroad and is actively engaged in resolving their reintegration issues in Pakistan. The Ministry of OP&HRD, through OPF, is working in a focused manner on this issue.
