ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told a group of Pakistani nationals in 黑料社区 on Tuesday the government was finalizing the modalities of voting process for citizens living abroad ahead of the next general elections that are scheduled to take place in August next year.
The minister, who went to the kingdom to perform Umrah, met with representatives of Pakistani community in Jeddah where he described the overseas nationals as 鈥渢he country鈥檚 assets.鈥
黑料社区 has the highest number of Pakistani expatriates, making it the top source of remittances for the South Asian country.
鈥淭he government will ensure that overseas Pakistanis manage to use their voting right in the coming elections,鈥 the interior minister said, adding it was 鈥渇inalizing the modalities of the voting procedure.鈥
Pakistan鈥檚 ruling coalition revoked the voting right of overseas Pakistanis in May by passing the Election Amendment Bill, 2022, which also prevented the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in general elections.
The country鈥檚 ousted prime minister Imran Khan鈥檚 administration sanctioned the use of EVMs during a joint parliamentary sitting in February, though its political rivals resisted the move and vowed to challenge it in the country鈥檚 top court.
鈥淥verseas Pakistanis are our best national asset,鈥 Sanaullah said. 鈥淭heir remittances are key for the economic stability [of the country].鈥
Discussing the Pak-Saudi ties, the minister said the kingdom had always helped Pakistan in the most difficult of situations.
鈥淲e are grateful to the Saudi government for providing employment opportunities to Pakistani workers and professionals,鈥 he added.
