The Pakistani Deputy Head of the Mission and Minister – Khayyam Akbar - urged compatriots not to slack down and relax in the event of this new extension of the amnesty/grace period granted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. He urged them to continue with their best efforts and get themselves documented and regularized. He added that he fully understood that Ramadan and the summer heat has added to the hardship of the workers but they must also realize that the time will fly and soon they would be faced with the extension deadline of 1st of Muharram 1435H. “This new extension is a Ramadan gift from the King and all must try to take the full benefit of this extension”, he said. He was speaking on the occasion of an Iftar-Dinner reception at Riyadh Palace Hotel in Riyadh - hosted by Rana Khalid Akram, the newly elected President of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz Group aka: PML-N.
Khayyam informed that the Ambassador of Pakistan – His Excellency Muhammad Naeem Khan – was in Jeddah for two very important meetings with the Saudi government officials regarding this issue of worker status correction & regularization. “We at the Embassy with the leadership of our Ambassador are working day in and day out for the welfare of our workers. The Ambassador has already said that he will go to the last mile to ensure that no Pakistani has to leave on final exit. But it all depends on the workers who have to do their part of the work as well, sincerely and diligently”, he added.
He also informed that the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh has plans to host the second stint of Status Correction Job Fair during the month of Ramadan in Riyadh, Dammam/Al-Khobar and Qassim. “The first Job Fair shall be hosted on Thursday 18 July in Pakistan International School at Nasiriyah-Riyadh (PISR-N) and on the 25th and the 26th instant, at Pakistan International School at Al-Khobar – for the benefit of the workers in the Eastern Province. These Job Fairs shall commence after Taraveeh at 10:00 PM and conclude at 02:00 AM, before Suhoor”, he informed. He also requested the Pakistani community to extend help and support to the Embassy via volunteer work at these Job Fairs. “This is a difficult time for our Pakistani workers and we all must try and do whatever we can – at least our own mite – to help reduce their plight”, he added. He informed that the schedule for the Job Fair in Qassim shall be released later on. He also informed that the Pakistani Consulate in Jeddah would pursue the same program of Status Correction Job Fair – for the workers in the Western Province. In this context he finally enlightened the audience that the workers in the following categories could benefit from this new extension of amnesty granted by the King.
1.All those workers whose Sponsors are either in Red or Yellow categories can transfer themselves to any other Sponsor – without the permission of their original sponsors.
2. All those workers who entered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Umrah/Hujj/Visit Visa before 3rd Juy-2008 - and overstayed - can take up any Sponsor.
3. All those workers who were declared run-away (Huroob) by their Sponsors before 6th of April-2013 can take up jobs with any Sponsor – without the permission of their original Sponsor.
4. Any worker under Sponsorship of any employer who has failed to issue him Iqama (and work permit) and/or did not renew their Iqama (and work permit) – no matter if the Company is in Green – can get their sponsorship transferred to any other Sponsor without the permission of their original sponsor.
5. Those over-stayers who have arrived in the Kingdom on Umrah/Hujj/Visit Visa after the 3rd of July-2008 must leave the Kingdom before the expiry of the amnesty/grace period. They can do so without any fine, penalty and black-listing.
Earlier on, the incumbent President of PML-N Riyadh Region welcomed all to this Iftar-Dinner. He offered his support to the Embassy in their efforts to alleviating the plight of the Pakistani workers. “I want to spent most of my free time on the welfare work for the Pakistani community and would request the Ambassador to engage me on this and give me a test case so I can put in my all efforts toward this challenge”, he said.
Some community leaders also spoke on the occasion. Muhammad Asghar Qureshi – Executive member of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (aka; OPF) and a noted businessman & leader of PPP in Riyadh congratulated Rana Khalid Akram for assuming the PML-N leadership in Riyadh. “I wish the present government well and trust they will serve the country to the best of their ability”, he added. Abdul Malik Mujahid of Darussalam said that this government has huge challenges before it and hoped that they would overcome these challenges and put the country back on the path to peace and prosperity. Hafiz Abdul Waheed of Majlis Pakistan expressed similar sentiments. PML-N Senior Vice President Rana Khadim Hussain expressed his feelings for the occasion via his poetry lines in Urdu and Punjabi thereby charging the crowd to excitement who applauded in return. Qari Aziz Ur Rehman in his speech extended Ramadan greetings to all and hoped that PML-N under the able leadership of Rana Khalid Akram would serve the community well.
The event concluded on happy note with prayers for the peace & prosperity of Pakistan.