Committee presses Ministry to regularise CWA extensions, strengthen off-loading redressal, and improve overseas welfare delivery.
Islamabad : Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, chaired by Syed Rafiullah, met in the Constitution Room, Parliament House, to review compliance with its earlier recommendations and to receive briefings from Community Welfare Attachés (CWAs) posted in the Gulf region. While acknowledging ongoing facilitation efforts for overseas Pakistanis, the Committee expressed serious dissatisfaction over incomplete responses, weak performance evaluation frameworks, and the overall quality of briefings presented to the Committee.
- The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) provided a briefing on the establishment of a “refusal to departure cell,” currently under review by the CCLC. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed for pre-departure facilitation desks at airports to ensure departing citizens are heard. The Committee directed that advertisements regarding these desks be placed at immigration counters in Urdu so that travelers who feel they were wrongly offloaded can seek immediate redressal
- During the discussion relating to overseas welfare and deployment, the Committee expressed concern that several agenda questions had not been adequately addressed, prompting the Chair to question the Ministry on the lack of preparedness. The Ministry sought additional time, citing constraints in conducting qualitative reviews and performance audits of CWAs, and committed to undertaking a structured performance audit. The Committee noted with concern that no systematic performance audit of CWAs is currently in place, despite the scale of overseas deployment and welfare responsibilities.
- Briefings by CWAs from the Gulf region highlighted deployment figures, welfare facilitation, jail visits, and labour market conditions. However, the Committee raised pointed questions regarding absence of CWAs from key stations, continuation of officers beyond tenure without a defined legal framework, and the lack of consolidated timelines for postings and extensions. Comparisons with regional countries were also discussed, with the Chair observing that Pakistan’s limited CWA presence stands in sharp contrast to the scale of its overseas workforce.
.5. In the briefing relating to Bahrain, the Committee examined labour agreements, skill collaboration initiatives, and challenges arising from localisation policies. Members noted delays in Joint Technical Committee meetings, limited progress on major projects, and unmet workforce deployment targets. The issue of non-recognition of certain Pakistani qualifications abroad was also flagged, with assurances given by the Ministry to take the matter up with relevant authorities. - Particular concern was expressed over complaints related to the recruitment process of welders for Korean, where candidates were tested and interviewed but placements did not materialise. The Committee directed that the above complaint be properly examined and findings shared with the Committee. Members further highlighted governance issues in allied organisations, delays in repatriation of deceased overseas Pakistanis, and the need for institutional reforms to address corruption and underutilization of assets.
- The Committee recommended the Ministry to link CWA performance with formal performance audits and qualitative reviews, frame clear rules governing extensions, review repatriation mechanisms for deceased workers, consolidate and improve the quality of briefings submitted to the Committee, and provide complete data on complaints received against CWAs.
- The meeting of the Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was attended by MNAs; Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Mr Mian Khan Bugti, Mr Fateh Ullah Khan, Ms Erum Hamid, Ms Mah Jabeen Khan Abbasi, Muhammad Ilyas Choudhary, Ms Saeeda Jamshid. Mr Zulfiqar Ali Behan, and Mr Farhan Chishti. The Meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development along with officers of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and Federal Investigation Agency.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
