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Join Date: 05 Mar 2015
Location:  OmanPosts: 24 |
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Illegal expats: Special fares for amnesty-seekers in Oman |
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Illegal expats: Special fares for amnesty-seekers in Oman
Muscat: As a goodwill gesture in the wake of Oman government's three-month-long amnesty programme, airlines operating from Muscat are coming up with special fares for those seeking amnesty. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Biman Bangladesh will offer special fares to amnesty-seekers who wish to leave Oman. Air India, however, has not decided on the special fares. "There is no such plan as of now," said a senior official of Air India in Muscat. Shahzad M. Paracha, country manager, Pakistan International Airlines, Muscat, said, "Being a national carrier of Pakistan, we cannot ignore our citizens. So we will be offering discounts ranging from 20 to 35 per cent on tickets to certain destinations of Pakistan." Pakistan International Airlines will also help illegal Bangladesh workers to return to their country. "Fares to Dhaka will also be reduced so that amnesty-seekers can benefit," he said. "For expatriates wishing to leave Oman under the government's amnesty programme, Biman Bangladesh will also offer special fares to Dhaka," said Showkat Hossain, country manager, Oman, Bangladesh Biman. It is learnt that the discounts will be available to people going to certain destinations in the subcontinent. "It is still at the level of a proposal that needs to be finalised," he said. Amnesty-seekers have been asked to get in touch with airlines or their travel agents to obtain details of the special offer. "Discounted fares will only be offered after amnesty-seekers have clearances from the government and the embassy," said Shahzad. He also said, "We expect that people will start moving out by the end of this month and the process will continue till the end of July." According to a notice uploaded by the Ministry of Manpower on its official twitter account, the amnesty period will begin on May 3 and end on July 30. Between this period, the undocumented workers can leave Oman without paying fines for violation of resident status rules in the Sultanate, the notice says. As per a rough estimate, there are around 50,000 undocumented migrant workers from different Asian countries waiting to avail themselves of the amnesty. There may be around 40,000 to 50,000 undocumented Bangladeshi migrant workers in Oman. "We expect around 3,000 to 4,000 Pakistani undocumented workers who can avail the Amnesty," Paracha added. Last December, the Times of Oman was the first to report about the possibility of the announcement of amnesty for undocumented migrant workers in Oman, a fact that was confirmed by an official from the Ministry of Manpower. Source:timesofoman http://www.timesofoman.com/News/51143/Article-Illegal-expats-Special-fares-for-amnesty-seekers-in-Oman |
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