UAE | Government
Envoy calls on expats to help in building economy
The Pakistani ambassador to the UAE has urged his fellow countrymen to help in the rebuilding of their ailing economy.
- By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 21:56 October 24, 2008
Al Ain: The Pakistani ambassador to the UAE has urged his fellow countrymen to help in the rebuilding of their ailing economy.
While describing the expats as an asset, Khurshed Ahmad Junejo encouraged them to use the official money transaction channels to send finances home.
The illegal hawala or hundi system has been eating up a big chunk of the much-needed foreign exchange the country should have earned from the more than 60 million Non-Resident Pakistanis (NRP) across the world.
"Our country has been passing through a difficult phase and need your (NRPs) support," Junejo told a community reception in Al Ain, hosted last Wednesday night by Akram Farooqi, a prominent community leader and the president of the UAE branch of the ruling Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP).
He said Pakistan is the identity and future of its people living in or anywhere in the world. "You (NRPs) can play a big role in the economic well being of the nation by increasing their remittances through banks, investment, and encouraging foreigners to invest in Pakistan."
Junejo said the Pakistani mission in the emirates will take measures with the support of the community to curb the hundi system. Some 800,000 Pakistani have been living in the UAE, coming in the top three countries from where Pakistanis are sending high remittances.
The USA and Saudi Arabia are two leading countries in that regard.
The envoy said that he had identified the major problems of the community and promised to pay immediate attention to their solution. "I represent Pakistan here and my doors are open 24 hours for every Pakistani living in the UAE," he said.
Good relations
UAE and Pakistan, he said, have been enjoying brotherly relations and a strong Pakistani work force in the emirates has further been cementing these relations.
He said the community members are the real ambassadors of Pakistan, asking them to continue to pay their role in the development of the UAE.
Speaking on the occasion on the behalf of Pakistani community, Akram Farooqi and Abbas Bhatti, a former president of the community's social centre, appreciated the ambassador's pledges for the community support.
Ambassador Junejo earlier also visited the Pakistani school and the social centre.
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