Riyadh: Managing Director of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), Muhammad Afzal Bhatti, has stated that Pakistani nationals whose visas have been cleared through the Protector system will not be offloaded from any airport in Pakistan. He reaffirmed OPF’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of overseas Pakistanis and ensuring the provision of necessary facilities.
Addressing a large gathering of Pakistani men and women at an event held in Riyadh, Muhammad Afzal Bhatti said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attaches great importance to overseas Pakistanis and acknowledges their contribution to the national economy. In line with this vision, the government has established special courts to protect the rights of overseas Pakistanis.
He further informed that the Government of Pakistan has launched skill development initiatives for individuals traveling to the Middle East and other countries, enabling Pakistani workers to compete effectively in international markets. Under these programs, OPF is facilitating the training of approximately 5,000 individuals annually.
The OPF Managing Director revealed that, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and FIA, a formal mechanism has been implemented to ensure that Protector-cleared visa holders are not offloaded at airports. He added that the compensation amount for families of Pakistanis who pass away abroad has been increased from PKR 300,000 to PKR 1,000,000, while injured workers will now receive PKR 600,000.
Community representatives including Sheikh Saeed Ahmed, Mahmood-ul-Haq Dogar, Adnan Iqbal Butt, Ahsan Abbasi, Waseem Sajid, Dr. Kanwal Anis, Syed Saqib Zubair, Mushtaq Baloch, Zakaullah Mohsin, Waqar Naseem Wamiq, and others emphasized that addressing overseas Pakistanis’ concerns and improving welfare services would further strengthen their role in national development.
Officials from the Pakistan Embassy, Welfare Attaché Najam Nawaz Saqib and Jannat Hussain, stated that the embassy continues to work diligently to resolve community and workers’ issues in close coordination with Pakistani organizations and welfare institutions.
