Islamabad
The government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to boost flow of foreign remittance in the country by incentivizing the Pakistani expatriates, using legal channels to send money to their homes.
The move was aimed at promoting legal means among Pakistani expatriates for the transfer of remittances and discouraging the use of Hawala/Hundi, a top official of Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) told the media persons here on Tuesday.
He said the idea was worked out by a committee on remittances chaired by the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance & Revenue Hafeez Sheikh.
During a recent meeting, he said the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development had agreed to facilitate the emigrants in opening new bank accounts.
“So the BEOE has given directions to facilitate every outgoing emigrant for opening of a new account so that a card like debit/credit card will be issued to them by the banks for different kind of incentives.”
He said the user would amass some points on swiping the card for transfer of remittances from abroad.
“After implementation of the plan, Pakistani expats will get incentives like concession in air tickets and permission for bringing a bit more luggage against the approved weight and two mobiles.”
The card holders’ families might be given some packages on purchasing edible items from the utility stores, he added.—APP
