JEDDAH, 2 July 2004 — Pakistan’s diplomatic mission has achieved a great deal of success in negotiating with sponsors in tackling labor issues and in getting death compensation.
“Our success rate in both cases is quite high,” Abdul Aziz Uqaili, consul (welfare) at the Pakistan Consulate General, said yesterday at a farewell reception held in his honor by Pakistan Journalists Forum. The forum combined the reception with a farewell party for PIA’s Western Province Manager Imtiaz Bhutto who is returning to Karachi at the end of his term to assume charge as the airline’s cargo manager.
“Our success in death compensation cases has been between 80 and 90 percent,” said Uqaili who is moving to Kuala Lumpur as his country’s welfare attache.
Uqaili said he was leaving the Kingdom soon to assume charge in the Malaysian capital and it would be his endeavor to get maximum job openings for his country’s workers there. The Malaysian government has announced its plans to recruit 200,000 workers, mostly for building and construction, from overseas.
Uqaili said various problems of Pakistani expats here and also back home were being addressed to appropriate authorities and the track record had considerably improved. For instance, dead bodies of Pakistanis were being transported back home free of cost, in response to the suggestion from the prime minister’s office. “We’re also promoting national savings and other investment plans for our overseas nationals,” said Uqaili.
He said he had been regularly visiting members of the community held in various jails and inquiring about their welfare. “Our mission has always addressed the issue of jailed Pakistanis and there have been occasions when some of them have been pardoned on mercy petitions, especially as a Ramadan gesture,” he said.
Imtiaz Bhutto said he would resume charge in Karachi on July 22. Referring to queries on the problem of reservation, he said the airline’s local office had six dedicated telephone lines and were effective in making bookings and reservations. “What’s more, we’re introducing e-ticketing very soon,” he said.
Bhutto added that PIA’s Western Province revenue accounted for 55 percent of the airline’s total earning in the Kingdom. “Our revenue has now gone up to SR160 million a year compared to SR95 million four years ago,” he said.
Forum Chairman Amir Muhammad Khan welcomed the guests of honor and its President Shahid Naeem presented plaques to both Uqaili and Bhutto.
