The overseas Pakistanis term is frequently used in Pakistan these days, but our focus is on those expatriates who have emigrated from their homeland to other countries not just to provide for their families but to play a vital role in the economic stability of their beloved homeland, battling economic challenges, and demonstrating their skills.
Pakistan is indeed a divine miracle, as from its inception to the present day, the way it has been managed through divine intervention is truly remarkable. Despite all our weaknesses and shortcomings, Pakistan endures and, God willing, will continue to stand for all time. However, we cannot afford to be complacent; practical measures are essential.
Despite the announcement of general elections by the Election Commission of Pakistean, there is a mystery surrounding the timing of elections in the country. There is a possibility that if immediate elections are not held, the influence of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Sindh may weaken, and their zeal for winning the elections may diminish, as Sindh can potentially become a stronghold for Sindh democratic party. Hence, it seems that Nawaz Sharif is keen on delaying the election to allow people to forget the deteriorating economic conditions during Shahbaz Sharif’s tenure. There is a strong desire for early elections by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), but the religious scholars of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) are acting as a bottleneck, and the country’s economy is suffering the most due to the current situation.
Pakistan, being the only Islamic nuclear power and the hope of the Muslim Ummah, is currently facing severe economic challenges. The scarcity of dollars is one of the primary reasons. The world economy depends on the dollar, which is distant from our treasury. It’s not that we have any issues with the dollar, but for some reason, it eludes us, despite everything.
Perhaps, part of the reason lies with our different government institutions, who have never paid attention to accumulating dollars but have focused solely on accumulating wealth, sometimes even through corrupt means. For instance, if we take the example of a housekeeper who works all day to bring home some money, then the household can run smoothly. Similarly, when we send money from across the seas, our system functions.
Not only petroleum products but also many other commodities, even wheat, are imported from foreign countries because they are distant from our treasury. It’s not that we have any issues with the dollar, but for some reason, it eludes us, despite everything.
The root cause of Pakistan’s economic woes is the scarcity of dollars, and our economy has suffered as a result. In times of crisis, Pakistanis living abroad have always stepped forward to help their homeland, but unfortunately, due to the shortcomings in our system, Pakistanis living abroad are often treated with disdain in foreign countries, similar to the colonial era. Their issues are not given priority.
If we look at India, more than 300 million registered citizens are living abroad, making India’s presence felt worldwide. However, Pakistan has approximately 9 million overseas Pakistanis providing services, and Pakistanis are not provided with opportunities to contribute to their homeland as Indians are to theirs.
During my tenure as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, I have worked to honor and respect overseas Pakistanis who send remittances to Pakistan legally. If we act on the formula of respecting overseas Pakistanis, it can yield favorable results.
In our previous articles, we have presented important suggestions to increase the foreign exchange reserves immediately. We can still attract Pakistanis living abroad for investment by offering them incentives. We can also carry out a single-country exhibition without spending money, utilizing the premises of our embassies.
The embassies can also utilize the services of Pakistanis living abroad to obtain certificates and documents, which are sent through legal channels and help increase our foreign exchange reserves. If we want to give a reward of 10% to 20% for pirated DVDs, the government can do that as well, benefiting both the government and overseas Pakistanis.
Overseas Pakistanis have a deep love for their homeland, and they are present all over the world. There should be facilities available to them so that they can send money to their families in the form of dollars. These dollars can boost our foreign exchange reserves. We should also welcome dollars legally sent by overseas Pakistanis.
Embassies can honor overseas Pakistanis who are sending legal remittances, and if a 10% to 20% royalty is to be given, the government can do that, benefiting the government and providing incentives to overseas Pakistanis.
Pakistan has vast barren lands, and we have recently initiated the allocation of vast tracts of land to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Similarly, we can engage overseas Pakistanis in corporate farming schemes, creating opportunities for them to invest in Pakistan. By utilizing the resources of different regions and involving overseas Pakistanis, we can earn billions of dollars.
