Sayyad Fayyaz Gilani
The Lebanon’s Hariri family’s head Rafeeq Hariri founded a construction company named Saudi Oger along with his French colleagues in the early 1970s. Its central head office was located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was only a matter of time before Saudi Oger transformed into a group of companies with a global reach to the international cities outside of Saudi Arabia. Oger International Paris, France; Oger London, Oger Istanbul, Oger Bangalore, Oger Damascus, Oger Morocco etc.
The company was a success and it gained a prominence in every construction related business. Oger Electric, Oger Plumbing, Oger Steel, and you name it! Anyhow the first Gulf war broke during the 90s after which this company’s worth increased to billions of dollars. This also brought an end to the other leading companies like Saudi Bin Laden, Saudi Ceramics inside of Saudi Arabia. Everyone talked about Saudi Oger when it came to construction or maintenance.
But the tragic death of Farooq Hariri in a bomb explosion, Hariri family’s participation in politics, its tense relations with the Saudi royal family and the deaths of King Fahad and King Abdullah damaged the company severely with a business point of view. And then like every up has a down, Saudi Oger met its downfall. It eventually bankrupted and finished. There were many international employees in the Saudi Oger.
Apart from the Gulf states, there was a large number from Philippines, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. When Saudi Oger was meeting its tragic fate, the salaries of the employees were stopped abruptly. Before the company’s complete shutdown, the salaries of ten months along with employee awards were pending but the owners disappeared, leaving these employees helpless.
A Pakistani employee from the company named Mazhar Kahoot told me that during the conclusive times, the only favour the concerned people and the Saudi Government gave was their safe return without any rights on income. That is why thousands of Pakistanis returned home after giving up on their rights on millions of Riyals. Many victims told me that they have not got any penny since their salaries had stopped.
A Pakistani named Syed Zia Al Hasnain told me that his ninety thousand Riyals are still pending, equaling almost 4 million in Pakistani Rupees. The sources also told that the governments of France, United Kingdom and Philippines intervened and successfully secured the arrears and the pending income for their respective citizens whereas the governments of India and Bangladesh are also very proactive for their citizens regarding the issue.
However Pakistanis have been abandoned by their government. After a little bit of research a Pakistani employee named qadeer kiyani revealed that the government of Pakistan compensated them only with fifty thousand Rupees during Nawaz Sharif’s gov and not a single penny was given or recovered after that, even though the Saudi labour court had given a ruling in their favour.
The legal record of all the employees is available to the Saudi Government and its concerned departments. The only thing lacking is the attention of Pakistani government, specifically the the ministry of overseas Pakistanis. The rightfully earned money of Pakistani citizens is still pending and it has been recognized by the Saudi Judiciary and their labour office. Keeping in mind the total amount sums to millions of dollars which if recovered will not only facilitate the affected employees that have been left jobless, but it can also contribute in the national economy.
We strongly appeal to the present government of PTI, that already has a well established influence over the overseas Pakistanis, to negotiate with the Saudi Government and instantly address this issue regarding human rights specially the Ministry of overseas Pakistanis. With due respect I had seen a post from Abdul Qayum Khan the ex president of PTI Saudi Arabia on social media, expressing his reservations about Zulfi Bukhari.
“An Afghan cargo agent stole millions from Pakistanis and managed to run away but the Ministry of overseas Pakistanis is reluctant to address our issue even after several requests for attention”, he said. Anyhow we hope that the government will listen and address the issue of these oppressed Pakistanis.
(The writer is frequent traveler and overseas businessman. He composed this article after a survey. The writer shall cooperate voluntarily if called regarding this issue. Victims can be presented in front of any Government committee or commission along with authentic records.
Mr. Prime Minister should look upon the matter with personal interest for the sake of hundreds of Pakistani families. Mr. Prime Minister the nation is waiting and calls upon you to come forward and save all these hundreds of families from this unanticipated hunger and poverty.)
