Doha - Haji Munir Khan Orakzai member of Pakistan's national assembly (MNA) has said that overseas Pakistanis will get special quota in the new housing schemes in Islamabad announced recently by the government.
Orakzai, a long time resident of Doha who represents NA-38 constituency of FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Area), arrived here on a private visit. Orakzai still holds resident visa of Qatar.
Speaking to the newsmen at his residence in Fariq Ghanem Al Qadeem area yesterday, Orakzai said the present government gives special importance to overseas Pakistanis, who contribute in the development of the country by remitting valuable foreign currency. He said a decision has been taken in principle to allot a quota for overseas Pakistanis in the new housing schemes in the capital. "The government has already fixed a quota for children of overseas Pakistanis in professional colleges and universities," he said.
Orakzai, who is also a parliamentary leader of MNAs from FATA, said the government is studying the possibility of forming a separate ministry for overseas Pakistanis so that affairs of expat Pakistani community could be looked after in a better way. He said, being an expat himself, he fully realised the problems of overseas Pakistanis. "I always seize an opportunity in the national assembly to apprise the government officials about the issues faced by overseas Pakistanis," remarked Orakzai. He said Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will be visiting Qatar soon. "The prime minister is likely to visit Qatar by the end of this month (April) or in early May," he said.
Responding to a question, Orakzai dismissed as baseless the rumours of early polls. "New elections will be held in 2007 as scheduled and the present government was determined to complete its term. The opposition should show patience and prove its power in the coming general elections," he said. Commenting on the appointment of frontier province's new governor, commander Khalilur Rehman, he said all groups favoured him.
He said the government has allocated huge funds for the development of tribal areas in the current fiscal year. "My area has received ten times more funds than previous year," said Orakzai. " I have launched four colleges, 28 schools, seven community health centres, five veterinary health centres, 11 irrigation channels, 16 drinking water schemes besides many other projects in my constituency," he said adding that 93-kilometre long road has also been made in his area.
By L N Mallik Haji Munir Khan Orakzai
© The Peninsula 2005
