Government to facilitate private sector for promoting export of manpower: Munir Qureshi

Islamabad, September 10, 2013 (PPI-OT): Government is taking various initiatives and streamlining the matters to encourage and facilitate the private sector so that it could contribute more effectively in promoting export of Pakistan’s manpower to all potential markets, said Mr. Munir Qureshi, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said the main focus of the government is to reduce the unemployment from the country and Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development would take all possible measures to address the problems of Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) and facilitate them to enhance the export of manpower.

Munir Qureshi said efforts are afoot to improve the working of vocational training institutes to increase the competitiveness of our human talent and export well trained and skilled manpower abroad.

He said the insurance cover for Overseas Pakistanis is being enhanced from current two years to their first employment contract period. He said pension plans for returning Overseas Pakistanis are being considered so that when they return home, they may not face financial problems.

He assured that all problems highlighted by the OEPs would be looked into to facilitate them. He acknowledged the positive role of OEPs in improving the economy and said that the top performer OEPs would be duly recognized by the government.

In his welcome address, Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan has huge potential to promote export of its manpower by developing skills and providing proper training to its human resource and government should fully support the private sector to fully realize the manpower export potential of the country.

He said the Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) are playing very important role in reducing unemployment as from 2008 to 2013, they sent 2.6 million Pakistanis abroad and government should provide them maximum facilitation to further enhance manpower export.

He said Overseas Pakistanis sent $13.92 billion as remittances and government should come up with better incentives for them and take private sector on board while making manpower policies so that with joint efforts we could further promote manpower exports.

Zubair Ahmad Malik, President, FPCCI also spoke on the occasion and said overseas manpower is the great wealth of the nation and government should do more for their welfare. He said Pakistani manpower is more productive as compared to the human resource of Pakistani competitors and FPCCI is ready to cooperate with the government to further improve their training and skills.

At this occasion, representatives of OEPs highlighted their problems and stressed for their redressal. They said Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) should provide better facilities to Overseas Pakistanis including education and housing etc.

They emphasized that Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis should work with OEPs to improve the manpower export procedures and processes so that we could compete more effectively with their competitors. They demanded that grant of visa process for representatives of foreign employers should be simplified so that they could visit Pakistan easily for interviewing the potential workers.

For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526 and 225 3145
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk