Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, led by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, met today at Parliament House to deliberate on the significant, yet underleveraged, opportunities within the Overseas Pakistani sector.

According to Senate of Pakistan, Senator Khanzada opened the session by highlighting the neglect of potential in the Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development sector. The meeting saw participation from notable senators and senior officials, including Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Kazim Ali Shah, Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD). The Secretary briefed the committee on various initiatives, including a master plan focused on HRD, emigration, welfare, and promoting investments to aid start-ups and coordinate skill development.

Significant discussions included the challenges of the domestic labor force and the decline in overseas employment due to insufficient skills and modernization in host countries. The Secretary detailed the criminal activities among the Pakistani workforce abroad, with a notable crime rate among Pakistanis in the UAE. Efforts to enhance the orientation for immigrants and the need for improved skills akin to the workforce from Bangladesh were also emphasized.

Senator Raja Nasir Abbas raised concerns about Pakistanis living illegally in Iraq, stressing the need for legalizing their status to prevent poor treatment. The session also covered the lack of effective implementation of policies and the private sector’s predominant role in job hunting abroad. The Secretary unveiled a two-year transformation plan aimed at better engaging the diaspora to boost remittances and promote investment.

The meeting concluded with Senator Khanzada appreciating the documented efforts and ongoing policies of the MOPHRD, expressing hope for future enhancements in the sector’s management and outreach.