Pak consulate to hold weekly open hearings in Dubai

he Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai will hold a weekly public hearing every week from next Wednesday to address the issues of the Pakistani community living in Dubai and northern Emirates.
The Consul-General will address the gathering and will listen to the issues of Pakistani expatriates between 2pm to 3pm at the premises of the consulate every week.
The consulate will also welcome suggestions submitted by the community, the Press release said. Pakistani expats have welcomed the decision. "The Pakistan Association of Dubai welcomes this positive gesture from the Pakistan consulate and will help to build a sense of community service.
It will definitely result in trust-building and help the Consul-General to understand the issues faced by the Pakistani community in the UAE," said Dr Faisal Ikram, general-secretary of the association.
"Mainly issues related to legal aid (immigration, jails, fines) as well as education sometimes sees people running pillar to post without any clue as to what kind of help can be sought. And what better way to address their issues than to firstly hear them out directly in a public hearing gathering."
Imran Rafiq Rana, vice-president at the Pakistan Social Centre, Sharjah, said: "We are thrilled at this decision as many of the 1.4 million Pakistanis here are workers and not very educated. When they lose their jobs, or not given due payments- even after spending half of their life time here- they need someone to advise as to what they can do. This will be an immense help for them."
A thrilled Sharjah resident Mohammed Kashif Ali, Marketing Manager at multi food products company IFFCO, said: "I think this is something the Pak community here in the UAE had been waiting for long. Now they will be able to directly voice their issues to the Consul General and can hope of quick solutions to their problems.
"I wish in future they start such consular service here in Sharjah, as well," Kashif added.
saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai