UAE | General

Pakistani expats lash out at foundation

Pakistani expatriates in Dubai lashed out at a delegation of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) for not fulfilling its promises regarding housing schemes, remittance benefits, educational projects and facilities at the airports.

  • By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:23 November 13, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Syed Nayyar Hasnain Haider, managing director of the OPF.
  • Image Credit: Atiq-ur-Rehman/Gulf News

Dubai: Pakistani expatriates in Dubai lashed out at a delegation of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) for not fulfilling its promises regarding housing schemes, remittance benefits, educational projects and facilities at the airports.

People vent their anger at Syed Nayyar Hasnain Haider, Managing Director of the OPF who came to address the gathering at a function held on Sunday at Pakistan Association Dubai.

"The OPF takes money and does not do anything for the expatriates. We have been robbed in housing schemes and have been waiting for their completion," said an angry expatriate and the rest supported him.

There was not even a single person in the gathering of some 200 people, who seemed satisfied with the OPF performance. "The delegation should not have come on a foreign visit when there is state of emergency in the country and general elections are on cards. It is a waste of time and money because their policies will again change with the change of government," commented a community member.

Even Abdul Hameed Chaudhry, Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai spoke for the community. "Their complaints are genuine and a number of community members have also come to me seeking solution to their problems," he told the gathering.

He also urged the OPF delegation to set up a central complaint monitoring cell to solve problems of the community abroad.

Main issues

"We also don't get answers most of the time whenever we send the community complaints back home. We try to get them resolved at personal level but the OPF should have a proper system to take all complaints seriously," Chaudhry added.

Some of the main issues the expatriate community in the UAE and elsewhere facing are: admissions in educational institutions, insufficient seat quota in professional colleges and universities; illegal possession on their properties back home, incomplete housing schemes, no benefits despite heavy remittances, abolishing the protectorate fee and protection of their families back home.

Haider patiently listened to the issues and said the OPF would look into the issues. He said the OPF will take up the matter with the government to increase quota for students in colleges, review remittance scheme benefits and will also launch some new housing schemes while completing old projects.

The new MD said that the OPF would also set up a university in Islamabad and colleges in major cities for overseas Pakistanis. He said the OPF would also launch joint venture projects and expatriates would be able to invest in housing schemes, industrial zones and even in educational projects.

Package: Pension scheme for those abroad reactivated

Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) has reactivated the Pension Scheme for Pakistanis working abroad.

The scheme, which was originally launched in 2001, got lacklustre response and was put on hold because the OPF failed to market it properly.

"We are re-activating the Pension Scheme and all Pakistanis living abroad can benefit from it," said Asad Khan, Executive Director of the OPF. He said that an Overseas Pakistanis Pension Trust has been formed to manage the self-contributory pension scheme.

He said the scheme was aimed particularly at Pakistanis living in the Gulf countries, who have to go back.

Different pension packages have been prepared offering five, 10 and 15 years plan with the option of lump sum and the annual payment plans. Minimum contribution has been fixed at Pakistani Rs 24,000 installment for the annual payment plan and Pakistani Rs 120,000 for the lump sum payment plan. An applicant can apply for unlimited number of plans. Immediate payment of pension is guaranteed in case of death or disability through an insurance cover.

More details about the pension scheme and other OPF projects can be viewed at the OPF website www.opf.org.pk or the Pakistani missions abroad.

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