21:04
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LONDON: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar has said that failing to give ownership to overseas Pakistanis in the national development and construction will jeopardize the integrity and security of Pakistan.
“The survival of Pakistan faces challenges. If we fail to give partnership and role to overseas Pakistan in the processes of national development then we will further endanger our interests,” Sattar said while addressing speaking in London on Friday night. The convention was organised by Pakistan Overseas International Alliance Forum (POAF). Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan, representatives from Pakistani communities from across the Europe attended the convention and told the minister about the problems they are facing back home.
Sattar spoke strongly in favour of the right of dual nationals to take part in electoral politics of Pakistan and called on all parties to support the bill which could empower more than 8 million Pakistanis. He said that not overseas Pakistanis but Pakistani nationals from within the country are involved in the plundering of the country. “Rich Swiss bank account holders are from Pakistan. They are so rich that they don’t need dual nationality. They have amassed so much wealth that it doesn’t matter what nationality they have.”
Farooq said it was a lopsided policy that Pakistani government spent millions of dollars on lobbyist like Mark Segel when overseas Pakistanis can be the best ambassadors of the country for free and “can represent a better image of Pakistan but we are not investing in them and have different priorities”.
Stressing that Pakistan can benefit from the emigration of Pakistanis abroad, Sattar said that Pakistan needs the “pluralistic and diverse experience” of overseas Pakistanis that they have attained while living in multicultural societies. “Pakistan needs it more than the money the send in remittances.
Time is now to transfer the expertise, education and exposure of Pakistanis abroad into Pakistan’s national life by enabling the country that could give them incentive. Time is running out for all of us, not just the failure of one political party or government or even non-political government, the question being debated around the world capitals is the failure or success of the very state of Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis are our biggest asset and we can learn a lot from India, China and Malaysia who utilised the expertise of their diaspora.”
He warned that if democratic parties fail to deliver on doables and if there is no legitimacy then the people will stop discriminating whether Pakistan has democracy or dictatorship and they will be concerned only with their well-being. He praised Pervez Musharraf era between 2002-07 when there were “no sectarian and ethnic killings” and millions of dollars were invested only in Karachi.
Sattar criticised telephone call charges imposed on overseas Pakistanis and informed that he had appealed to the premier to scrap the new taxes which are the handiwork of FBR who have imposed these taxes after failing to meet their tax targets. He said he was aware that overseas Pakistanis were opposed to Smart Nadra cards because they were insecure and expensive and will stand by their demand to scrap them.
Sattar said his ministry had created new projects of private-public partnership models in which overseas Pakistanis could invest in and earn profits but also help Pakistan.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner in the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan said Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted a fair and democratic Pakistan, which could provide equal opportunities to all. “Vast majority of Pakistan want Jinnah’s Pakistan, not Taliban’s Pakistan. Sectarian killings are an unfortunate aspect of the wider war but its also because our rulers attempted to make Pakistan a religious state and laid the foundation of a mindset,” said Wajid, adding that in spite of the security issues dozens of businessmen visit Pakistan every year to assess the situation.
Wajid said that his party was in favour of the dual nationality legislation as overseas Pakistanis need representation in Pakistan and all parties must unite on this issue and stop playing party politics. He asked overseas Pakistanis to lobby with parties such as Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and others on this issue.
“The survival of Pakistan faces challenges. If we fail to give partnership and role to overseas Pakistan in the processes of national development then we will further endanger our interests,” Sattar said while addressing speaking in London on Friday night. The convention was organised by Pakistan Overseas International Alliance Forum (POAF). Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan, representatives from Pakistani communities from across the Europe attended the convention and told the minister about the problems they are facing back home.
Sattar spoke strongly in favour of the right of dual nationals to take part in electoral politics of Pakistan and called on all parties to support the bill which could empower more than 8 million Pakistanis. He said that not overseas Pakistanis but Pakistani nationals from within the country are involved in the plundering of the country. “Rich Swiss bank account holders are from Pakistan. They are so rich that they don’t need dual nationality. They have amassed so much wealth that it doesn’t matter what nationality they have.”
Farooq said it was a lopsided policy that Pakistani government spent millions of dollars on lobbyist like Mark Segel when overseas Pakistanis can be the best ambassadors of the country for free and “can represent a better image of Pakistan but we are not investing in them and have different priorities”.
Stressing that Pakistan can benefit from the emigration of Pakistanis abroad, Sattar said that Pakistan needs the “pluralistic and diverse experience” of overseas Pakistanis that they have attained while living in multicultural societies. “Pakistan needs it more than the money the send in remittances.
Time is now to transfer the expertise, education and exposure of Pakistanis abroad into Pakistan’s national life by enabling the country that could give them incentive. Time is running out for all of us, not just the failure of one political party or government or even non-political government, the question being debated around the world capitals is the failure or success of the very state of Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis are our biggest asset and we can learn a lot from India, China and Malaysia who utilised the expertise of their diaspora.”
He warned that if democratic parties fail to deliver on doables and if there is no legitimacy then the people will stop discriminating whether Pakistan has democracy or dictatorship and they will be concerned only with their well-being. He praised Pervez Musharraf era between 2002-07 when there were “no sectarian and ethnic killings” and millions of dollars were invested only in Karachi.
Sattar criticised telephone call charges imposed on overseas Pakistanis and informed that he had appealed to the premier to scrap the new taxes which are the handiwork of FBR who have imposed these taxes after failing to meet their tax targets. He said he was aware that overseas Pakistanis were opposed to Smart Nadra cards because they were insecure and expensive and will stand by their demand to scrap them.
Sattar said his ministry had created new projects of private-public partnership models in which overseas Pakistanis could invest in and earn profits but also help Pakistan.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner in the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan said Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted a fair and democratic Pakistan, which could provide equal opportunities to all. “Vast majority of Pakistan want Jinnah’s Pakistan, not Taliban’s Pakistan. Sectarian killings are an unfortunate aspect of the wider war but its also because our rulers attempted to make Pakistan a religious state and laid the foundation of a mindset,” said Wajid, adding that in spite of the security issues dozens of businessmen visit Pakistan every year to assess the situation.
Wajid said that his party was in favour of the dual nationality legislation as overseas Pakistanis need representation in Pakistan and all parties must unite on this issue and stop playing party politics. He asked overseas Pakistanis to lobby with parties such as Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and others on this issue.
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