OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS FOUNDATION

Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development, Government Of Pakistan

Assistance in Repatriation of Overseas Pakistanis

Emergency Relief Cell (ERC) – Compensation to Kuwait-Iraq War Affectees

Overseas Pakistanis Foundation played a major role during Gulf War crisis in 1990. After the gulf war the task of compensation claims of the war affectees was assigned to the OPF by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC). According to an estimated figure about 90,000 Pakistanis including their family members were living in Kuwait at the time of invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990. As a result of Gulf War, more than 60,000 Pakistani expatriates returned to Pakistan from Kuwait/Iraq. At the time of their arrival in Pakistan, camps were established by the OPF at Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Taftan border to facilitate such war affectees. These affectees were paid cash, amounting to Rs. 6,000/- to each earning member at the time of their arrival to meet in land travel expenses. For this purpose, OPF contributed Rs. 50 millions.

44,538 war affectees filed claims, which were later submitted to UNCC by OPF for further processing and grant of compensation to claimants. Out of these 44,295 claims of category A, B, C, D, E & F were approved amounting to US$ 314.792 million and distributed accordingly. Subsequently, 2067 late claims were submitted to UNCC, against which 830 Claims of category A&C were approved and an amount of US$ 12.71 million & distributed accordingly. The role played by OPF in this regard was highly appreciated by the UNCC authorities.


Yemen Crisis

During the political crisis of Yemen in 1994, about 336 Pakistani expatriates were received and provided all possible assistance by OPF at Karachi and were transported to their respective destinations. An amount of Rs. 0.5 million was spent in this regard.


Jordan Crisis

In 1999-2000 about 224 stranded Pakistanis were repatriated to Pakistan due to strict regulations imposed by Jordanian Govt. An amount of US$ 64,000 was spent by OPF on the repatriation of such Pakistanis. At the time of their arrival in Pakistan OPF staff received them at various airports and provided all possible assistance.

Repatriation of Children

OPF also provided assistance in the repatriation of 23 children whose parents were caught in Saudi Arabia while smuggling illegal drugs and were sentenced to death as per Saudi laws. These children were received by OPF staff and were finally handed over to their relatives.

Camel Jockeys

OPF also played an important role in the repatriation of those children who by any means were transported to Gulf countries for camel races (known as jockey children). 335 such children were repatriated and handed over to their parents.


Repatriation of Stranded Pakistanis from Libya 2011

Approximately, 5996 overseas Pakistanis from Libya had been repatriated at various airports in Pakistan through special chartered and commercial flights on account of political unrest in Libya since March 2011. These Pakistanis were received and assisted by OPF Airport Facilitation Counter staff in coordination with the officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs at various airports of Pakistan.

OPF provided inland transportation facility to deserving overseas Pakistanis through buses/train who did not have any source of payment for their onward journey to their hometowns. Consequently, 1870 overseas Pakistanis were provided bus/train tickets by officials deputed at OPF Facilitation Counters at Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar airport for their onward inland travel to destinations in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. An approximate amount of Rs 1.6 million was spent by OPF on provision of inland transportation facility on need basis.

Evacuation of Overseas Pakistanis from Yemen - 2015

Pursuant to the directive of the Prime Minister, the Government of Pakistan is making all necessary arrangements for immediate evacuation of Pakistani community members from Yemen. Approximately, 1037overseas Pakistanis from Yemen have been repatriated at Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi airports through special PIA flights and Pakistan Navy.

As a result, 605 overseas Pakistanis from the special PIA flights/Pakistan Navy Vessel were provided bus tickets by officials deputed at OPF Facilitation Counters at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports for their onward inland travel to their destinations in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.


Repatriation of Stranded Pakistanis from Libya 2014

OPF was assigned the role to provide necessary facilitation to evacuees from Libya on their arrival at the International Airports in Pakistan. Approximately, 2762 overseas Pakistanis from Libya had been repatriated through 10 special flights at Lahore airport. OPF provided inland transportation facility to 584 deserving overseas Pakistanis through buses who did not have any source of payment for their onward journey to their hometowns.

Repatriation of Pakistani Workers from Saudi Arabia 2016-17

So far 3349 number of Pakistani workers from Saudi Arabia have arrived at Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore. Out of these workers 2965 have been provided assistance by OPF for travel to their destinations from Airport to their hometown and Rs. 10 (Million) approximately has been paid so far.


Flood Relief Camp at Muzaffargarh

In 1992 the southern Punjab was hit by severe floods which rendered than 500 thousand peoples homeless. OPF on the direction of the than Federal Minister established relief camps for immediate help of the flood affected. 14 truckloads of beddings and eatables were distributed amongst the affected peoples.


Relief Camp at Dadar & Buner

In 2000 on account of heavy rains in Northern Areas of the country relief operations were carried out in vast area of Dadar, Buner, Balakot, Mahandri and Kohistan. Relief goods consisting of eatables and bedding were distributed amongst the affected families.


Earthquake Relief Operations 2005

A catastrophic earthquake jolted the country on October 08, 2005 which resulted in immense destruction and heavy loss of lives. A relief grant of Rs.01 crore was deposited in the presidents Relief Fund and goods worth Rs.08 million were distributed in affected areas.


Relief Goods for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to Military Operation

On the directive of the Honorable Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development relief goods were distributed amongst the families of Overseas Pakistanis living in relief camps and host families at District Swabi and Mardan , due to recent military operation in Swat, Buner and Lower Dir. Relief goods (foods & non-food items) amounting to Rs.01 million were distributed among 300 IDPs families at UC Shera Ghund, Swabi and District Mardan.


Assistance for Displaced People of Gilgit-Baltistan Due To Landslide at Attabad

The landslide at the village of Attabad, about 30km (18 miles) north-east of the town of Aliabad, Gilgit-Baltistan occurred during January 2010 that killed 20 and left about 25,000 people stranded when the river was blocked. The landslide caused debris to block the River Hunza, which in turn prevented water from flowing downstream and created what is now referred to as Attabad Lake. Relief goods (Tents) amounting to Rs.0.5 million were distributed among IDPs families.


Flood Relief Operation 2010

OPF launched Relief Operation in the flood affected areas of Pakistan. The main aim of relief efforts initiated by OPF was to provide relief to the families of overseas Pakistanis affected due to floods. OPF had established Relief Camps in Multan, D.G.Khan, Muzaffargarh, Kandhkot and Quetta where flood affectee families were housed. Besides Relief Camps food/non-food items, medicines and items of basic necessity were also distributed amongst the displaced families in Charsadda, Nowshera, Swat and Dera Murad Jamali. An amount of Rs. 08 million had been incurred by OPF on flood relief operation.


Financial assistance for earthquake affected overseas Pakistanis and their families in district Awaran, Baluchistan

A devastating earthquake with the magnitude 7.7 took place in the evening of 24 September 2013 in Awaran, Baluchistan. The earthquake took a death toll of about 825 people and several hundreds were injured. The district of Awaran was damaged severely and about 80% homes were either collapsed or destroyed. In view of the catastrophe, OPF decided to come forward and provide financial assistance to overseas Pakistanis in this time of need. 102 overseas Pakistanis belonging to Awaran District, Baluchistan have been provided with compensation amounting to Rs. 2.55 million (@ Rs. 25,000 each)