Waqar Naseem Wamiq, Riyadh – Managing Director of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), Muhammad Afzal Bhatti, has assured that all travelers with duly protected visas will not face offloading at any airport in Pakistan. He reiterated OPF’s firm commitment to defending the rights of overseas Pakistanis and extending them improved facilities.
Addressing a large gathering of Pakistani expatriates in Riyadh, Bhatti underscored that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif holds overseas Pakistanis in high esteem, recognizing them as vital contributors to the nation’s progress.
He noted that the government has established special courts to safeguard their rights and introduced skilled training programs for workers bound for the Middle East and other destinations. Through these initiatives, OPF equips nearly 5,000 individuals annually, enabling them to demonstrate their expertise abroad more effectively.
Bhatti further disclosed that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and FIA, OPF has enforced a directive ensuring visa-protected passengers are not offloaded at airports.
He also announced a significant increase in compensation: families of overseas Pakistanis who pass away abroad will now receive PKR 1,000,000 instead of PKR 300,000, while injured workers will be granted PKR 600,000.
Community leaders including Sheikh Saeed Ahmed, Mahmood-ul-Haq Dogar, Adnan Iqbal Butt, Ehsan Abbasi, Waseem Sajid, Dr. Kanwal Anees, Syed Saqib Zubair, Mushtaq Baloch, Zakaullah Mohsin, Waqar Naseem Wamiq, and others lauded OPF’s initiatives.
They emphasized that addressing expatriates’ challenges and providing facilities will empower them to serve the nation with greater dynamism.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Embassy Welfare Attachés Najam Nawaz Saqib and Mrs. Jannat Hussain reaffirmed the embassy’s dedication to resolving community and workers’ issues with diligence and responsibility, ensuring welfare projects are successfully implemented in partnership with the Pakistani diaspora.