Karachi, In a significant move to bolster regional cooperation and economic growth, officials from the Parliamentary Assembly of Economic Cooperation Organization (PAECO) convened at the National Assembly of Pakistan for a groundbreaking two-day workshop. The gathering aimed to strengthen ties among member countries and enhance their collective development efforts.
According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the first day of the workshop saw an informative session on ‘Understanding the Role of Parliamentary Services.’ Mr. Muhammad Anwar, Executive Director of PIPS, provided an in-depth overview of legislative and non-legislative procedures, laying a foundation for improved parliamentary collaboration. Another key session focused on ‘Ease of Doing Business and Need for Reforms in Legislation,’ where participants discussed international best practices and strategies for effective trade-related policy development.
The day concluded with Mr. Nadeem Ahsan leading a session on adopting best practices to fortify economic cooperation among PAECO member states. He highlighted the critical role of parliamentary bodies in fulfilling the organization’s objectives.
The second day of the workshop is set to continue the exploration of parliamentary topics, with a particular focus on establishing, operating, and strengthening parliamentary forums and friendship groups. This segment emphasizes the importance of joint efforts in achieving regional goals.
This workshop marks a crucial step for PAECO member parliaments, representing a unified approach towards economic progress and regional collaboration. Officials from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Iran, and Pakistan, along with representatives from the PAECO Secretariat, participated in this event, demonstrating their commitment to fostering regional development through parliamentary cooperation.
Islamabad, The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, led by Senator Engr. Rukhsana Zuberi, met today at the Parliament House to address the challenges faced by Pakistani workers abroad and the high unemployment rate among the country’s youth.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee discussed various issues, including the need for employment opportunities for Pakistan’s youth, who make up 60% of the unemployed population. Senator Zuberi emphasized the importance of smart and short training programs in sectors like medical, nursing, and midwifery to reduce unemployment. The Executive Director (ED) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) suggested reserving a portion of seats in medical colleges for children of Overseas Pakistanis, mirroring private medical institutions. The PIMS officials requested time to consider options for resolving this issue.
The committee also focused on the issue of beggary among Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia, particularly those visiting for Umrah. The Ministry of Interior reported that they have offloaded 44,000 individuals in the past two and a half years attempting to travel for such purposes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) advised implementing stricter passport issuance checks and screenings. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis proposed that NADRA block the CNICs of individuals involved in begging to dismantle begging rackets. Senator Zuberi directed the Interior Ministry to take necessary actions against this growing concern in Middle Eastern countries.
Furthermore, Senator Zuberi recommended the establishment of an online portal providing real-time job opportunities information abroad, including details on required skills and relevant training institutions. The Ministry of Overseas suggested involving the IT ministry and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) in developing this portal.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development.