Additional Chief Secretary Shoukat Ali said that Punjab government is committed to serve our overseas Pakistani brothers and sisters and resolve the challenges faced by them as per the vision of Prime Minister Pakistan Imran Khan.
Additional Chief Secretary Punjab said this while chairing a high-powered meeting on recognition of services and long-lasting facilitation of overseas Pakistanis. The meeting was attended by OPC Commissioner Passand Khan Buledi and different secretaries including Secretary Regulations, Youth Affairs, Sports, Archelogy & Tourism Department, Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department, Higher Education Department, School Education Department, Industries, Commerce, Investment & Skills Development Department, Housing and Physical Planning and Special Education Department.
The chair appreciated the role of Overseas Pakistanis Commission and the commissioner for their services. It was intimated that 5pc quota was reserved for overseas Pakistanis in Housing Policy-1986 which was later abolished but it has been decided in meeting that a summary will be submitted to Chief Minister Punjab for revival of 5% quote for overseas Pakistanis.
It has been recommended though that special quotas of plots up to 10% to 15% may be fixed in all public sector Housing Schemes in Pakistan for overseas Pakistanis. Commissioner OPC Passand Khan Buledi briefed the chair regarding working mechanism, and latest statistics on the performance of the commission.
It was also decided that Higher education department may proceed further with formal notification of enhancement of quota in admission for the children of overseas Pakistanis. Moreover, Youth Affairs, Sports, Archeology and Tourism department has issued a notification of 20% concession for overseas Pakistanis in all hotels/motels/resorts, being operated by Tourism Development Corporation, Punjab. The office of Inspector General of Police, Punjab shall issue SOPs to RPOs for facilitation to Overseas Pakistanis at Police Stations/offices.
It was also decided in meeting Higher Education Department would consult the Punjab Education and Endowment Fund (PEEF) to allocate special quota for overseas Pakistanis’ children in PEEF scholarships. The representative from Home department informed the chair that directions have been passed to Rescue 1122 to ensure availability of the ambulances at the airports for transportation of bodies of deceased Overseas Pakistanis.
Additional Chief Secretary gave directions to the secretaries of different departments to ensure relief to overseas Pakistanis and resolve their problems.
