Six Pakistanis from Oman join OPAC
Muscat - Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) in its board meeting led by chairman Board of Governors (BoG) in Islamabad, has approved 20 nominees from nine countries, including six from Oman, to the Overseas Pakistanis Advisory Council (OPAC).
Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minster of Pakistan’s vision to promote regional peace and national integration is dovetailed by his stated policy of ‘peaceful neighbourhood’ and ‘Inclusion of Overseas Pakistanis in Policy Formulation’, practically substantiated with his presence in the Maldives as chief guest on National Day coinciding with OPF BoG proceedings on OPAC.
Prime Minister’s initiative has provided an unprecedented impetus to vertical and horizontal structural organisation of OPAC, previously restricted to four, now mustering 137 overseas Pakistanis, a new BoG with a first-ever, elected chairman in place of Minister for OPF.
UK-based chairman of BoG Barrister Amjad Malik highlighted that Prime Minister deems Pakistani expatriates as roaming ambassadors and accords highest priority to them.
On this occasion, the Ambassador of Pakistan in Oman H E Ali Javed has extended felicitations to Pakistani community for securing substantive representation on OPAC and acknowledged support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, OPF and chairman of BoG, OPF.
OPAC members from Oman include Syed Muhammad Rizvi, chairman, Al Burkan Contractors; Mohammad Yaseen Bhatti, managing partner, Stars Light; Mian Riaz, who established Mo- hammed Riaz & Partners, a building materials company and Home Mart, whereas Barrister Taimoor Malik established Oman’s largest Law Firm ‘Curtis Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle’, in 2014.
OPAC also includes Chaudhary Ashraf and Syed Fayyaz Shah, who attained Omani nationalities, with Ashraf establishing Beacon House School in Oman in addition to his Trading Company whereas Shah has established ‘Abu Reem Trading’ in Real Estate & Construction.
The chairman of BoG visited Oman on April 12 and met with the entire spectrum of Pakistani Community. On July 2, he hosted a reception for OPAC nominees in Islamabad. OPAC members will serve a tenure of three years with mandate to rendering advice on policy formulation, relay sentiments of Pakistanis and project soft power of Pakistan.