Overseas Pakistanis urged to exercise patience, cooperate with govt amid coronavirus
He said that the parliament is playing its role in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in the country
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Monday said that the government is familiar with the problems of overseas Pakistanis and urged them to exercise patience and cooperate with the government.
Addressing a press conference along with Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri and State Minister for SAFFRON Shehryar Khan Afridi in Islamabad on Monday, he said that the foreign ministry has been directed to convey the concerns of overseas Pakistanis to the relevant governments abroad.
He said that the parliament is playing its role in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in the country, adding that the parliamentary committee on coronavirus is also actively working.
Asad Qaiser said a sub-committee has been constituted on the issue of pilgrims returning from Iran and Tablighi Jamaat, adding that we are also taking steps to resolve the problems of overseas Pakistanis.
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The NA speaker said it is our responsibility to display good behavior towards people who are infected by coronavirus.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said elected representatives are playing their role in this challenging situation.
He said it is inappropriate to link the spread of coronavirus with a specific religious group or sect.
The minister said uniform policy will be implemented for Ramazan and mosques. He said we will take next steps in this regard with guidance of Ulema and Mashaikh.
Earlier today speaking at the meeting of the Special Committee of the Parliament on coronavirus, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the next phase of repatriating overseas Pakistanis from abroad is beginning from April 14.
He said these stranded Pakistanis will be brought back through nine special flights. So for 39,7478 Pakistanis are waiting for their repatriation to their homeland, he added.
The FM said a number of Pakistani nationals have become jobless in the United Arab Emirates due to Coronavirus outbreak and they too want to come back. 2,248 Pakistanis relating to Tableeghi Jamaat are wishing their repatriation from Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, he told.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistani citizens, including students, living in the United States and Canada, are also desirous of coming back to Pakistan which can take the tally to forty thousand people, wishing their repatriation.
He further informed the committee that fourteen Pakistani citizens are in Nepal, while four are in Maldives who will be got together at a common station from where they will be brought back.
The minister said so for 1,640 Pakistanis have been repatriated through 12 special flights and now efforts will be made to bring back more and more Pakistanis in the next flight operation starting from April 14.
