Dubai: The newly-appointed Pakistani ambassador to the UAE has pledged to improve plight of the community schools and social centres in the emirates.
"I had a different image of the place before coming here but I am disappointed to see the dilapidated condition of this community centre and the Pakistani schools here," Khurshed Junejo told a reception hosted yesterday by Saleem Kashmir, a prominent community member, at the Pakistan Association and Sports Centre in Dubai.
The envoy said he had identified five major problems since he arrived in the UAE, which need immediate attention.
"The challenges are to improve the schools and the social centres, help Pakistanis in jails, upgrade facilities at Pakistani missions and above all to bring the community under one platform as they are scattered in groups," he noted.
"I represent Pakistan here and my doors are open for every Pakistani living here," Junejo, who is a diehard leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), made clear. He hails from Larkana - the hometown of the slain Benazir Bhutto.
Responding to the demands of the community, he said he would ensure that the Pakistani missions contribute 25 per cent of the construction cost for new building at the Pakistan centre in Dubai.
"Welfare funds collected from the community should be spent on the community here," he said. The construction of the new building for the association has been delayed for 18 years due to lack of funds.
Pakistani missions in the UAE have been collecting 10 per cent for a welfare fund since 1982 along with fees for various consular services.
For every service, the applicant must pay between Dh10 and Dh35 to the welfare fund. Hundreds of passports are issued every day in addition other services.
A consulate official said that millions of dirhams are raised every year for the fund but very little is given back for community services.
"I was surprised to hear about this fund and I was told that this fund is used by the government to support other non-profit missions," Junejo said.
Disapproving the policy, he said the welfare funds collected from the community here should be spent on their welfare and to improve education standards in their schools.
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter