ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development on Thursday recommended the government to end requirement of National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) for the Zone B and termed it a burden on people due to heavy fees. The committee, which met here with Senator Baz Muhammad Khan in the chair, also decided to issue a warning letter to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Labour and Manpower secretary over his absence in the meeting. He warned the secretary of issuing arrest warrants for him if he did not attend the next meeting. The committee also took up the matter of construction of schools at Zhob and Bannu. It was told that the Public Works Department had expressed its reservations on PC-I of the schools at Zhob. Ministry of Overseas Pakistan Secretary Khizar Hayat Khan told the participants that there was no issue of funds but three departments were not cooperating in this regard. The committee also reviewed implementation status on its recommendations regarding payment of salaries to the employees of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Workers Welfare Board. Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) managing director presented a detailed strategic plan for the next three years along with measures to improve the performance of the OPF. He told the committee that the management was taking positive steps for the betterment of the OPF. He said overseas Pakistanis convention would be held in December 2017. Present at the meeting were senators Hafiz Hamdullah, Sardar Fateh Muhammad Muhamad Hassani, Saeedul Hassan Mandokhel, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasir, Rehman Malik, Haji Saifullah Khan Bangash and Nighat Mirza, Minister for Overseas Pakistani Pir Sadarud Din Rashdi and officals of NADRA and OPF.
