KARACHI: Dual nationality holders in country are biggest hurdle in development of economy, trade, industry, politics and establishment affairs of nation. According to analysts estimate about more than half million citizens of Pakistan were involved in higher echelons of decision-makers and those who are holding dual nationalities along with their families. Hence, it is being urged to take matter seriously on floor of Parliament for making and adopting strict policy against this hybrid class which is destroying country’s national image all over world.       

 An incomplete report was published last year in local media stating that most of government officials and their families had become foreign nationals first in order to have safe exit whenever necessary indicating failed society and failed state. These are corrupt government officers who have been making money by bribes and other means or made money and also they belong to different political parties, it’s all network of you scratch my back I scratch yours. Their roots are so deep every institution is under influence of corrupt, analysts claimed.

They quoted last year’s report submitted to Supreme Court of Pakistan. It was revealed that more than 22,000 top government officers were dual nationals. According to report, 11,000 officers belonged to police and bureaucracy. As many as 540 of them held Canadian nationality, 240 were British and 190 were American. Dozens of government officers hold nationality of Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Ireland, and other countries. Officers holding dual nationality also included public servants from grade 17 and above, report said, adding that six officers of Grade 22 were dual nationals.

It was disclosed that key officers with dual nationality included Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Kamran Baloch (PAS, Grade 22), Federal Secretary for Human Rights Rabia Agha (PAG, Grade 22), Secretary Board of Investment (BOI) Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera (Grade 22), incumbent DG Passport of Immigration Ishrat Ali (Grade 21), Sumera Nazir Siddique, Secretary Awqaf Punjab Zulfiqar Ahmed Ghuman, and Customs’ Zeba.

It was revealed that dual nationality holder officers were working in interior division, power division, aviation division, finance division, petroleum, commerce ministry, establishment division, information ministry, railway and others. As many as 1,515 officers of National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) were holding dual nationality.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 09 2023

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