Under the patronage of Daily Jang recently a Seminar on Overseas Pakistanis and their problems was held in UAE. Its report appeared in Overseas Pakistanis Page Weekly Baladi of Daily Jang Karachi on 6.8.2004. In the Seminar one Taqueer Hussain Malik ex-Vice President of Pakistan Association Dubai stated that they went to Overseas Pakistanis Convention held in Islamabad and when they desired to talk about OPs and Association’s problems the then Minister for Overseas Pakistanis allegedly asked him to sit down saying ”Kahaan UAE say Ah Gay Ho”. This has not surprised me at all. At the time of OPF Convention the OPF Minister was Shaikh Rashid Ahmed. When he visited Saudi Arabia a worker stated that whatever schemes are made these were designed keeping in view the Overseas Pakistanis (OPs) working in Europe and not for those working in Middle East. He was referring to the then introduced housing scheme in Islamabad down payment of which in Dollars was too high. As then reported by Saudi press the Minister replied “OPs living in Europe are the one who have more money and send home and not low paid ones in Middle East”. Only after a month or two of his above statement, a news item appeared, not in any unpatriotic press as leaders when on chair term Pakistani press, but in the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation own House Journal that government was to pledge the forthcoming remittances of OPs in Saudi Arabia to get loans from IMF/World Bank. Friday is a holiday in whole middle east. There is no business in most of these countries in the afternoon. Markets and offices re-open at 04.00 pm in the second shift. Traditionally people during these hours in GCC countries mostly sleep for rest. I work in Dahran Saudi Arabia but two days week ends I spent with my son and his family who live in Bahrain reachable by Bridge. Shaikh Rashid visited Bahrain a few years back. It was Friday too hot afternoon and I was there. The labour class who had only this afternoon to take rest, left their homes in hot sun to come and listen the visiting Minister and present their problems and complaints. At that time in fact community had lot of complaints about Embassy, corruption in school which is run by Pakistan Embassy (last week Bahraini authorities fined this school Bahrain Dinars 40,000 which come to Pakistani sixty four lakhs. After the Minister’s speech when the very first labourer stood up to put his complaint, the Minister stunned the whole audience saying I have not come to listen to your complaints. Community elders and audience could not believe their ears. If OPs cannot put their problems grievances and complaints before the Overseas Pakistanis Minister, then are they supposed to put all these before Station Master of Quetta Railway Station? When the speech session finished some who had brought written complaints which were mostly against Pakistan Embassy, Shaikh Rashid received and while sitting in the car handed those all over to the Ambassador saying take all these, since these are all against Embassy deal and dispose these off as you feel fit.
Re: Pakistanis Workers Abroad and Their Minister
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*Originally posted by iqbajwa: *
...... when they desired to talk about OPs and Association’s problems the then Minister for Overseas Pakistanis allegedly asked him to sit down saying ”Kahaan UAE say Ah Gay Ho”. ......
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Such behavior of high officials is utterly disgraceful, even though it is hard to corroborate this particular incidence. We all love to make bombastic statements while doing little for alleviating problems with Overseas Pakistanis.
It is time to recognize the positive role and great contributions of OPs. They are Pakistan's best "export". I wish we could package this export in best and shiniest wrapping and handle it with the greatest of care. Only then we can get the international respect for Pakistan and Pakistanis.
P.S. Time to get revenge for beheading of two unarmed Overseas Pakistanis! We need to deploy 10,000 soldiers in the Middle East right now. This will send the message to everyone (inside and outside the country) that Pakistan is now serious about protecting its citizens at all costs.
09 September 2004
Dear Brother Antiobl, good remarks.
We are nuclear power but could not show any courage. The policy adopted that we are with you is quite right. There could not had been any other way if one is honest and judicious. This was the most wise step taken. Those sitting abroad enjoying luxuries and controlling parlties sitting abroad and taking about poorman's condition, had they been on seat at that time they would had done the same thing. And they would do the same for coming back on the chair. But what as a common man at least I myself feel that since we had nuclear for a day we should had stalled our reply saying "we quite appreciate the situation and fully support you but would give you answer tomorrow after discussion with the family (nation, national leaders etc). Hence brother your saying that we depute so much soliders and show what we are is a good dream.
General Zia came to Saudi Arabia. People told them some problems. The fact is Overseas Pakistanis working in whole middle east have no respect. Except for say 10% rest about 90% are practically 2nd grade citizens. I was working in Pakistan. These were peace days but we got order to keep prepared emergency plans for our organisation. Then I learnt that it is a standard universally that offices and organisations keep emeergency disater plans always ready. All governmetns in middle east during two Iraq wars in 1990 and 2003 prepared emergency plans for evacuation of their national workers inmiddle east and if not anyoen did was that was Pakistan. Even Philippines which is more poor did it. One leader said arabs are ourbrother we are with them. Are we really brothers of Arabs? It is not a topic here. General Zia in Saudi Arabia stated which press carried out that Pakistanis working abroad should not feel that their country has left them alone, if they feel they are not treated well come back to motehrland lap of which is open for you, if you want to work, work with honour. I do not rememebr exact wordings but meaning and express was what I described above. It gave in our hearts a feeling of proudness and boldness while I was one of the Overseas Pakistanis there. But later he did nothing.
The famours Overseas Pakistani who by habit keeps on opening his mouth without when came to Saudi Arabia stated that Overseas Pakistanis who have served 10 years abroad should come back to Pakistan and serve Pakistan with their experience. I wrote him more than a dozen letters in two years that I want to come back to Pakistan, I would accept my same old seat on very meagure salary but I never got even a single ackowledgement of my letters.