Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday as a chief guest at Apna Ghar programme call overseas Pakistani asset for the country. He added that although these overseas Pakistanis are “the biggest asset for the country”, we are unable to benefit from this asset.
According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, in FY July-May, Pakistani sent back to the country close to $27 billion remittances, much higher than Pakistan exports. Moreover, the premier terms corruption the “biggest hurdle in the way of investments in Pakistan”
Read more: PM thanks overseas Pakistanis as remittances 43pc higher YoY
Overseas Pakistani progressing, says PM Khan
The premier, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Apna Ghar programme as the chief guest, said that he has witnessed overseas Pakistanis progressing.
He said that overseas Pakistanis sent the biggest amount of foreign exchange to Pakistan to help stabilize the national kitty. And therefore, he calls overseas Pakistani asset for our country in the backdrop of staggering economic situation.
PM Imran Khan added that the technical expertise of overseas Pakistanis had to be welcomed in Pakistan but that couldn’t be done due to several hurdles.
“It is difficult to change things all of a sudden but we are trying our best to do that,” he assured the overseas Pakistani community.
Corruption, a hurdle for overseas investment
The premier said that land grabbers operating in Pakistan “illegally occupied plots that overseas Pakistanis had bought in the country.”
He further stated that corruption is the “biggest hurdle in the way of investments in Pakistan” because the people who are used to a corruption-free environment cannot work in a country having a racket of corrupt individuals. And due to corruption, the country is unable to utilize the overseas Pakistani asset.
“Nonetheless, we will try to provide safety to the investors by bringing improvements in the system,” the premier promised.
Read more: A guideline for the rights of overseas Pakistanis
Sharing his views on the difference between import and export, PM Khan said that this difference can be removed with similar short-term schemes.