Overseas Pak remittances reach $18BN

Manama

The overseas remittances by Pakistanis have touched a staggering figure of $18 billion annually, revealed Member of National Assembly Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, adding that the Pakistani government is working to facilitate them at all levels.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the Golden Jubilee Defence Day Celebrations ceremony here in Pakistan Club Bahrain, in which many Pakistani community members participated.

He said the Government of Pakistan was working on major projects for the overseas Pakistani community, in recognition to their services.

He complimented the role of the Pakistani community in Bahrain in strengthening the ties between Pakistan and Bahrain.   

He assured the Pakistani embassy in Bahrain would get three new machines and more staff to quickly finish the backlog of thousands of National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC). “We value the contribution of our expatriate community in the development of both Pakistan and Bahrain. Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy time-tested ties and all Pakistani nationals consider Bahrain as a second home,” he stated. Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Executive Director, head of the Bahrain Asian Traders  Committee and leading businessman Mohammed Sajid Sheikh was the guest of honour at the event.

He said that despite assurances for the past 15 months, nothing tangible has happened to address the NICOP/NCOs issue.

“We have taken the matter to the concerned authorities in Islamabad. It was also directly passed on to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif during  his visit to Bahrain. Unfortunately we are victims of bureaucracy and have to face serious problems when we travel back home,” Sajid added.

Chairman of Pakistan Club Mahmood Rafique Chaudhary highlighted delayed process of NICOP/NCOs and said that without valid identity cards Pakistanis living in Bahrain face many legal challenges.

 “The government of Pakistan needs to address the issue on priority basis,” he stressed.