Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
To increase the volume of foreign exchange reserves, vigorous efforts were carrying on to explore new markets for manpower exports across the globe.
These revelations were made by Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Agha Rafiullah while responding a calling attention notice in National Assembly here on Tuesday. In this regard he told the house that agreements with different countries were in the pipeline to enhance the manpower export.
The Parliamentary Secretary said the Protectorate of Emigrant Offices will also be established in all major cities including Sukkur, Bannu and Gilgit Baltistan. He said a summary in this regard has been moved by the Ministry of Overseas and Human Resource Development. He said, “Keeping in view the importance, the Ministry has moved a summary to establish offices in all the major cities and minster himself would introduce it to the federal cabinet for the approval soon.”
He informed the members that former Prime Minister Imran Khan has shifted Abbottabad protectorate of the emigrant office to Sawat on the request of the then communication minister.
He said that the minister of Overseas Pakistan had carried out visits to various countries to explore more job opportunities for Pakistanis. “Agreements with various counties are in the pipeline and these would be finalized soon” he added.
He said that talks with Malta, Korea and Japan are also underway to accommodate more Pakistanis in these countries. He said that all the information regarding availability of job opportunities abroad is for the information of the public.
Responding to another question, he claimed that during the previous regime Imran Khan’s front man committed corruption in the overseas ministry.
The Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf referred the matter to the concern committee for detailed discussion.
Several bills were laid before the House on Tuesday.
These included: Islamabad Capital Territory State Counsels Remuneration Bill, the Drugs Amendment Bill , the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Amendment Bill, The ICT Criminal Prosecution Service Bill, Pakistan Penal Code Amendment Bill, the Allied Health Professionals Council Amendment Bill and Pakistan Red Crescent Society Bill. The chair referred the bills to the Standing Committees concerned.
Taking the floor, Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Agha Rafiullah said a proper mechanism should be put in place to ensure appointment of judges on merit.
He said a reference should also be filed seeking clarification as if the Chief Ministers can dissolve assemblies without citing any reason at the whims of one person.
Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Kiran Imran Dar informed the National Assembly that all pending salaries and pensions to employees of Railways had been paid.
Responding to a notice regarding the delay in payment of pensionary benefits and salary to the employees of the railways, she said, “All the employees of Railways had received their salary pension today as per the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to pay salary before the Eid.”
She further informed the house that the dues of retired employees till 2022 had also been cleared. Dar said that a sum of Rs3 billion has been spent to rehabilitate Railways track damaged in the 2022 flood.
Later, the House was adjourned to meet again today at 12:00 noon.
