Libya unrest rendered 6,000 Pak expats jobless, NA told

ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that the situation in Libya impacted Pakistani workers who were mostly employed in the oil and construction sector as around 6,000 Pakistani nationals have lost their jobs there. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, during the question hour, said that in Bahrain, around 3,000 Pakistani nationals were affected; around 500 of them were displaced from their homes. In a written reply, she said that 37 Pakistani nationals were injured during the unrest and five of them, including two serving in Bahrains police force, died. She said that all our nationals in Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Tunisia are safe as the government undertook all possible measures to ensure the safety. The Pakistan missions in the region (Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia) are maintaining camp offices on the borders in order to assist these people on arrival and arrange their repatriation to Pakistan. The Pakistan missions in Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Tunisia have also been taking special measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Pakistani nationals working and living in those countries. As of 10th April 2011, 5,828 Pakistani nationals, she said, have been repatriated from Libya and 50 from Bahrain. To another question, the Minister said that efforts were underway to sign extradition treaty with 35 countries of the world. The countries with whom agreements are under process include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Iran, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uzbekistan, Netherlands, Philippine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Uzbekistan and Yemen. Pakistan wanted to sign such agreements with every country, she added. To another question, the minister said that five Pakistani students were currently imprisoned in USA, UK and Canada. In a written reply, the minister said that Ahmed Adnan Chaudhry was arrested on charges of attempted murder in US, Adnan Mirza for possessing a gun and hatching conspiracy against the US government, Abid Naseer on charges of plotting terror attack during Easter in United Kingdom, Aqeel-ur-Rehman for involvement in terrorist acts in Spain and Salman Dar on the charges of rape. She said that only Foreign Office had the final and ultimate Call Maker to announce immunity to any diplomat. She said that if the Foreign Office declares immunity to any diplomat, he/she couldnt be tried in any court. In a written reply, she said that Pakistan Embassy and Consulates in USA issued 195,793 visas during the last five years. Giving break-up, she said that Pakistan Embassy at Washington issued 68,088 visas, while Consulate General at Los Angeles, New York and Chicago issued 36,158, 71,079 and 20,468 visas respectively during the said period. To another query she said that Pakistani mission abroad issued as many as 57,724 visas to foreigners of the third world countries since April 2008 to December 2010. To another question, Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that Pakistan Railways had not received Rs. 11.6 billion grant approved by the Federal Cabinet even after passage of four months, which was essential to improve its efficiency. We are in dire need of funds to but new locomotives, he added. Pakistan Railways was granting 50 per cent concession in economy class and 25 per cent concession in all AC classes to senior citizens who attained the age of 65 years.

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