Senate body for proper check on private promoters, employers
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—The Senate Standing Committee on Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis which met here Monday under the chairmanship of Senator Naeem Hussain Chattha directed the Ministry of Labour and Manpower to keep a proper check on the private promoters/employers to ensure that no Pakistani is exported outside without legal documents.
During the meeting the Committee was of the view that the procedure should be streamlined so as to bring the private employers/promoters under the ambit of the Government. The Committee appreciated the role of M/o Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis for generating funds for the earthquake victims and for protecting the rights of the people in foreign countries.
The committee also called upon the Community Welfare Attaches (CWA) working in Middle East and European countries to keep a liaison with the workers and Pakistanis with a view to remove their difficulties.
While discussing the contributions made by Pakistanis and local communities abroad, the Committee was of the view that CWAs should impress upon the Pakistanis and local community to donate generously for Pakistan's earthquake victims.
The Members of the Committee appreciated the response of the international community for the earthquake victims and termed it as the result of Pakistan's successful foreign policy.
Chairman Committee directed the Overseas Pakistanis Division to ensure that the Community Welfare Attaches are more active by strengthening the links with the community and to redress the workers problems.
The Committee was provided country wise details of the contributions/donations received so far.
It was informed that a proposal was in the offing to arrange a national conference in which well off Pakistanis, both overseas and local would be invited to generate more funds for the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims.
The Committee also discussed the issue of Pakistanis jailed in Malaysia as reported in the press.
Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower stated that the report is totally baseless and aimed at fulfilling the objectives of the vested interests. He said that the matter was thoroughly probed and it was revealed that no Pakistani was found in jails or detention camps in Malaysia.
The Committee was given detailed information regarding the Pakistanis working in Malaysia in different sectors. The meeting was also attended by Senators Tahir Iqbal, Sahibzada Khalid Jan and Raza Muhammad Raza. Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, MOS for Overseas Pakistanis, Senator Tariq Azeem and senior officers of the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis were also present.
The HEC also set-up base camps and hospitals at the Universities of Muzaffarabad, Hazara University and COMSATS Abbotabad. A great number of participants from different countries of the world attended the conference and submitted their proposals for rehabilitation of the effected areas.