Senate body for action against beggars among Umrah visitors

ISLAMABAD: The sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has directed the Interior Ministry to take necessary action against the growing trend of begging in Saudi Arabia, conducted by individuals visiting for Umrah purposes and also in other Middle Eastern countries.

The sub-committee held its meeting with its convener Senator Engr.Rukhsana Zuberi in the chair to discuss the problems confronting overseas Pakistani workers in different countries.

Senator Zuberi highlighted the growing trend of begging in Saudi Arabia, conducted by individuals visiting for Umrah purposes.

Interior Ministry officials apprised the committee that the ministry has offloaded 44,000 individuals in the past 2.5 years involved in begging in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

However, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials suggested that checks and balances should be kept in place for passport issuance, and the ministry should increase the screening of individuals before the issuance of passports.

Moreover, officials of the Overseas Pakistani Ministry suggested that NADRA block the CNICs of individuals involved in begging, as it will help in breaking the rackets of begging. Rukhsana Zuberi directed the Interior Ministry to take necessary actions against the growing begging in Middle Eastern countries.

While addressing the issue of youth unemployment, she remarked that Pakistan encompasses 60% of unemployed youth, and there is a dire need to provide employment opportunities to these youth. She said that smart and short-term training programmes in medical, nursing, midwifery, and other potential sectors will serve as a guiding light in reducing the growing unemployment rate.

The PIMS officials apprised the committee that a suitable portion of seats could be reserved for children of overseas Pakistanis, following in the footsteps of private medical colleges.

Moreover, PIMS officials requested a few days for consideration of possible options for the resolution of the matter. Additionally, Senator Engr. Rukhsana Zuberi recommended that an online portal providing real-time details of job opportunities available in several countries with details of the skills required for the job and the necessary details of the institutions specialised in such training be established.

However, the Overseas Ministry suggested that the IT ministry and PITB should be taken on board for this purpose.