Chairman OPF Announces New Initiatives for Overseas Pakistanis

Special Correspondent

Dubai: Chairman Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), Syed Qamar Raza, held an interactive session with members of the Pakistani community at the Pakistan Social Centre Sharjah, reaffirming the government’s commitment to addressing the needs and welfare of overseas Pakistanis.

The event, hosted by Mr. Khalid Hussain Chaudhry, President of the Centre, was attended by H.E. Hussain Muhammad, Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai, Community Welfare Attachés Imran Shahid and Junaid Murtaza, along with representatives from various Pakistani business councils and community organizations.

Welcoming the Chairman, Mr. Chaudhry said the session aimed to provide overseas Pakistanis with a platform to share their feedback and ideas directly with OPF leadership. Community members lauded the successful Overseas Pakistanis Convention held earlier this year in Pakistan and praised OPF’s continued efforts for expatriate welfare.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman Qamar Raza emphasized that overseas Pakistanis remain close to the hearts of the country’s leadership, noting that remittances exceeding USD 38 billion annually play a vital role in strengthening Pakistan’s economy. He urged expatriates to continue using legal banking channels for remittances and outlined several initiatives to support the diaspora.

Raza announced that, on the Prime Minister’s directives, a 5% quota in educational institutions and 5,000 seats in technical and vocational training programs under the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) have been reserved for the children of overseas Pakistanis. He also highlighted the establishment of special courts dedicated to resolving property disputes faced by Pakistanis abroad.

The Chairman further revealed that the next Overseas Pakistanis Convention will be held in April 2026 in Pakistan, emphasizing that such gatherings are crucial for understanding community challenges and shaping future welfare initiatives.