DUBAI, Oct 04 (Web Desk): Chairman Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), Syed Qamar Raza, engaged with the Pakistani community during an interactive session held at the Pakistan Social Centre Sharjah.
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The session, hosted by Khalid Hussain Chaudhry, President of the Centre, was attended by Hussain Muhammad, Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai; Community Welfare Attachés Imran Shahid and Junaid Murtaza; as well as members of various Pakistani business councils and community representatives.
Overseas Pakistanis Play Key Role in National Economy
In his address, Chairman OPF Syed Qamar Raza highlighted that overseas Pakistanis remain at the heart of Pakistan’s leadership and are a major strength of the national economy.
He revealed that remittances exceeding USD 38 billion annually from overseas Pakistanis play a pivotal role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy. He encouraged expatriates to continue sending remittances through legal banking channels, which directly contribute to the country’s financial stability.
Welfare and Education Initiatives for Overseas Pakistanis
The Chairman outlined several new initiatives being launched for the welfare of the Pakistani diaspora.
He announced that a comprehensive plan is being developed to address the educational needs of Pakistani students in the UAE.
Under the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, a five percent quota in Pakistan’s educational institutions and 5,000 seats in skills development programs under the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) have been reserved for children of overseas Pakistanis.
Syed Qamar Raza further shared that the government has established special courts to resolve property and legal disputes faced by overseas Pakistanis in Pakistan.
Next Overseas Pakistanis Convention Scheduled for April 2026
Chairman Raza also announced that the next annual Overseas Pakistanis Convention will be held in April 2026 in Pakistan.
He appreciated the valuable contributions and participation of the Pakistani diaspora in previous conventions and emphasized that the success of such events belongs to the overseas community.
Community’s Voice Matters in Policy Making
During the event, community leaders lauded the OPF’s continued efforts for the welfare of expatriates and congratulated Chairman Raza on the successful Overseas Pakistanis Convention held earlier this year.
Chairman Raza reiterated that interactive sessions like these help identify key challenges faced by the overseas community and enable the government to design better welfare policies in response.
He expressed his commitment to further strengthen ties between the government and overseas Pakistanis, ensuring that their concerns are effectively addressed.
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