03-30-2009, 02:42 AM
The PPP before coming into power in its election manifest including welfare of Overseas Pakistanis. Accordingly it has after coming into power many a time showed its intent to do welfare of Overseas Pakistanis and introduce new schemes for their benefit. For this welfare the OPF increased its membership fee from Rs. 900/- to Rs. 2000/- benefiting its coffers. Now the new Federal Minister Dr. Farooq Sattar immediately on his taking charge has announced that the speedy steps would be taken for the welfare of Overseas Pakistanis like giving them quota in assemblies etc. As a first step towards this the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation is now sending a circular letters to Overseas Pakistanis abroad. With this circular letter is a three page Application Form for registration of Pakistanis for some "Fund". In Urdu it reds "Behbood Fund" and in English "Welfare Fund". The Fee for Registration is Rs. 2000/-. By signing the Form the applicant agrees that he has understood the membership conditions. And these conditions are applicant should be of 18 years, should provide proof of his stay or employment abroad. However this Form is totally silent to tell what this Fund is? The question is "is there any Behbood Fund" existing or now planned in OPF? The Form does not indicate what is the advantage of this Fund to the members. A fund is universally created for some specific purpose and it is clearly stipulated how the fund would be operated and what would be the benefit for the members. Would the registered member after registration needs continuing contributing some fixed amount say monthly or quarterly to the Fund and how would he in return get benefited at some stage. All these things are silent even on the OPF website. Last month the most leading Daily arranged a seminar. The participants mostly the Overseas Employment Promoters unanimously viewed and questioned "quote any one single scheme OPF has ever prepared for the collective benefit of Overseas Pakistanis".
Last month Pakistan Embassy Riyadh warned Pakistanis working there to be careful and not to become prey to unscrupulous telephone calls originating from Pakistan congratulating recipient Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia that they had won a Riyal 5 million or 10 million award. Last week another Gulf country through its national press warned Pakistanis working there to be careful from similar telephone calls coming from Pakistan conveying Pakistani having won huge fortunes.
What is this Behbood Fund/Welfare Fund? So far no one from amongst the friends I spoke knows if OPF had ever any specific particular Welfare Fund? The OPF I am aware gives some financial assistance in case of death or disability (permanent?) of an OP but technically that is a different thing than what impression "Welfare/Behbood Fund" brings to the mind. Will OPF highlight the salient features of the Welfare/Behbood Fund" or it is just normal OPF membership Form and the word "Fund" is just an attraction. On March 5, 2009 a column appeared from well known Fasi Zaka entitled "Hell-fire banking" pointing out the advertisement tricks used by Banks that market Sharia compliant banking in which he says it is like playing with the emotions of the ordinary citizens in general and trying to profit from people's religious sentiments.
Last month Pakistan Embassy Riyadh warned Pakistanis working there to be careful and not to become prey to unscrupulous telephone calls originating from Pakistan congratulating recipient Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia that they had won a Riyal 5 million or 10 million award. Last week another Gulf country through its national press warned Pakistanis working there to be careful from similar telephone calls coming from Pakistan conveying Pakistani having won huge fortunes.
What is this Behbood Fund/Welfare Fund? So far no one from amongst the friends I spoke knows if OPF had ever any specific particular Welfare Fund? The OPF I am aware gives some financial assistance in case of death or disability (permanent?) of an OP but technically that is a different thing than what impression "Welfare/Behbood Fund" brings to the mind. Will OPF highlight the salient features of the Welfare/Behbood Fund" or it is just normal OPF membership Form and the word "Fund" is just an attraction. On March 5, 2009 a column appeared from well known Fasi Zaka entitled "Hell-fire banking" pointing out the advertisement tricks used by Banks that market Sharia compliant banking in which he says it is like playing with the emotions of the ordinary citizens in general and trying to profit from people's religious sentiments.
