RIYADH, AUGUST 17 (DNA): Saudi Arabia has assured Pakistan of early solution of the problems of stranded Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia.

The assurance was given Saudi Minister for Labour and Social Development Dr. Moufarrej Bin Saad Al-Hagbani during a meeting with Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Pir Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The Minister also met Saudi Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. The Saudi Minister said that medical treatment of Pakistani workers would be provided at government hospitals and all expenditures on medical treatment would be borne by the Saudi government.

The Saudi Minister for Health has assured the Federal Minister that medical treatment of Pakistani workers would be provided at government hospitals and all expenditures on medical treatment would be borne by the Saudi government, says a press release received here today from Riyadh.

During the meeting, the Federal Minister informed the Saudi Minister for Health regarding sufferings and problems being faced by Pakistani workers due to non-availability of medical facilities in camps. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and both the countries agreed to work together to lesson sufferings of Pakistani workers.

The Federal Minister also met with Dr. Moufarrej Bin Saad Al-Hagbani, Saudi Minister for Labour & Social Development and discussed with him the problems of Pakistanis workers living in the camps. Payment of salaries and other issues including renewal of iqmas and treatment facilities etc were also taken up during the meeting. Discussions were held in a very friendly atmosphere and Saudi Minister for Labour & Social Development has assured the Minister for Overseas Pakistanis for early solution of the problems of Pakistani workers.

Pir Sadarrudin Rashidi also met representatives/coordinators of various camps of Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia and discussed with them the details of meetings being held with Saudi authorities for solving their problems.

The Ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, Managing Director, OPF, Community Welfare Attaches and other concerned Pakistani and Saudi Government Officials were also present during the meetings.

Meanwhile, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Pir Sadaruddin Rashidi on Wednesday met with the Pakistani workers who were stranded in Damam after the organisations they were working for got bankrupted. Rashidi assured his fellow countrymen stuck in Saudi Arabia that the arrears shall soon be provided to them.

The stranded Pakistani nationals complained to the overseas ministers that they were not provided their wages since a number of months whereas they were also not being issued the residence permit.

Rashidi assured the complaining Pakistani workers that their wages shall soon be provided to them and that the government was taking measures to improve the overall situation as well.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed to provide the families of the workers stranded in Saudi Arabia with Rs 50,000 as compensation after the issue was constantly highlighted by media. =DNA