Community development is our priority

Pakistan is proud to have a 1.5 million-strong community in the UAE as partners in development, says Pakistan's Consul General Syed Javed Hassan

Exclusive Interview with Khaleej Times
Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai, Syed Javed Hassan is passionate when it comes to community service. He has plans for the future, and leaves no stone unturned in personally addressing them to their minute details. This, indeed, is reflective of his professional training as a military officer, which makes him a 'go getter' and task-oriented. 
In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, Syed Hassan (Brigadier retired) revealed that he plans for a new consulate in Dubai, saying the present premises is too old, and unable to cater to the growing needs of more than a million-plus Pakistani community. The Consul General said that he had a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during his recent visit to Islamabad over the issue, and the chief executive had been kind enough to approve the project. He said that the new consulate in Dubai will reflect the growing ties between the two countries, and be large enough to take care of consular as well as other social welfare activities. "We plan to house a community hall in it too," he observed.
The consul general said that his prime focus is to ensure that Pakistanis living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates are taken care of, and consular and other legal-economic issues are addressed in an appropriate manner. "Pakistan has more than a million-strong labour force in the UAE, and they take pride in building the country as their second home. We strive for a better deal for the labourers. We ensure that the minimum wage of Dh800, plus Dh200 as allowances, and proper accommodation comes their way," a considerate Javed Hassan pointed out, adding "we also ensure that labourers are properly hired in their specific trade of expertise. Around 70 Pakistanis are hired on a daily basis from the Consulate to the UAE, and the criterion is strictly monitored by the UAE and Pakistani authorities in direct contact with the employers. We act as the eyes and ears for this entire mechanism."
He said the consulate also periodically inspects labour camps along with senior officials from the concerned ministry, as well as an employers' representative. "The intention is to provide peace of mind to the labour community as they discharge their duties, and keep them free from routine hassles by improving accommodation conditions and provision of due facilities." He said the consulate on receipt of complaints also looks into payment of dues, and disbursement of salaries in time. 
He specifically mentioned the role played by consulate's welfare department, which takes care of Pakistani prisoners, and those in need of legal aid, and facilitates them in the best possible manner. "Weekly inspections and data upgradation are its hallmarks." The Consul General said the Consulate has assisted deserving Pakistanis also financially with total amount Rs.15.3 million (from September 16 to December 17). Moreover, he pointed out that a total 1640 Remittance Cards and OPF Membership Cards were processed.
Brig. Hassan said that his focus is on schools. There are around seven Pakistani community schools in the UAE with more than 8,000 students, and he prided in the fact that schools' affairs have been streamlined to the best of professional values, and Pakistani academic institutions in Dubai and the Northern Emirates are competitive and dispense quality education. "We are conscious of needs and necessities of a growing community, and addressing education issues on a priority basis."
Regarding consular/passport services, he specified that more than 100,000 passports were renewed/issued at the consulate in 2017. He added that Online services have further facilitated people regarding issuing/renewal of passports and more efforts are being made to further streamline the process in the least possible time.
The consul general in Dubai said that Pakistan eyes Expo 2020, and wants to make it a grand success. Pointing out at the trade equation between the two countries, he said 33 businessmen from the UAE, including a large number of Emiratis, participated in Expo 2017, one of the biggest trade exhibitions in Karachi. He also said that investments to the tune of millions is in the pipeline, and informed that recently three slaughter houses in Pakistan were approved by UAE Government for meat exports to the UAE. He also said that three vessels berthed in UAE carrying around 90 containers of mango, which is Pakistan's prime produce and is in great demand. 
The top diplomat in Dubai envisages a roadmap for trade and merchant shipping between the two countries, and remarked that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could be of great help to the UAE. He pointed out that CPEC could reduce the trade distance for UAE by thousands of kilometres through the Gawadar Port. He also said UAE could opt for building its oil refineries/reserves at Gawadar port for shipment to China and beyond.  Pakistan's prime exports to the UAE are rice, textile and organic food and vegetables, whereas its imports are oil and petroleum products. 
Brig, Hassan specifically mentioned the Pakistan Assistance Programme (PAP) of UAE, which is an important developmental programme and said that several initiatives such as polio vaccination, a desalination plant in Gawadar and the 75-km road between North and South Waziristan in the tribal belt are cases in point. Similarly, Sheikh Zayed Research Institute at Karachi University; Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore; the 100-bed Sheikha Fatima Hospital in FATA; Sheikh Khalifa Hospital; and Rahimyar Khan Airport are icons of deep-rooted cooperation.  
- mehkri@khaleejtimes.com

• Pakistan
• UAE