ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Ship ASLAT with an embarked AL-43 helicopter visited the Jeddah Port of Saudi Arabia as part of overseas deployment for Regional Maritime Security Patrols in the Arabian Sea, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement on Saturday.
Deployment of the Pakistani Navy ship is aimed at ensuring maritime security in the region in line with the Pakistan government’s policy and international obligations.
“PNS ASLAT is front line warship of Pakistan Navy Fleet and fourth ship of Sword Class frigate project; built at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works,” Pakistan Navy said, adding that “the ship is fitted with state of the art weapons and sensors, capable of undertaking wide range of maritime operations in multi-threat environment.”
Commander Replenishment Group Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Western Fleet along with the Joint Operations Center Jeddah welcomed the Pakistani Ship at Jeddah port.
Commanding Officer ASLAT, Captain Shafiq Ur Rehman, met with Saudi Navy officials and highlighted that the visit was a part of a multifaceted long-term collaboration between the two navies.
“Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are tied in eternal bonds of religion and brotherhood,” the Pakistan Navy statement said. “The visit by ASLAT will further enhance Pakistan Navy’s bilateral relations with Royal Saudi Naval Forces in diverse avenues.”
Last month, on June 29, three Saudi naval officers were among 175 graduates of the Pakistan naval academy’s 111th course commissioning parade in Karachi, where the commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily, was the chief guest.
While addressing the graduating officers, Al-Ghofaily highlighted the close collaboration between the armed forces of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and said there was a common desire in both nations for regional peace and stability.
Pakistan Navy warship in Jeddah as part of regional security patrol
Pakistan Navy warship in Jeddah as part of regional security patrol
- Deployment aimed at ensuring maritime security in line with Pakistan's policy and international obligations
- ASLAT is a front line warship "capable of undertaking wide range of maritime operations in multi-threat environment”
Pakistan to send over 10,000 workers to Italy over three years after securing employment quota
- Government says Italy will admit 3,500 workers annually under seasonal and non-seasonal labor schemes
- It calls the deal a 'milestone' as Italy becomes the first European country to allocate job quota for Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has secured a quota of 10,500 jobs from Italy over the next three years, an official statement said on Saturday, opening legal employment pathways for Pakistani workers in Europe under Italy’s seasonal and non-seasonal labor programs.
Under the arrangement, 3,500 Pakistani workers will be employed in Italy each year, including 1,500 seasonal workers hired for time-bound roles, and 2,000 non-seasonal workers for longer-term employment across sectors.
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development said Italy is the first European country to allocate a dedicated labor quota to Pakistan, describing the move as a milestone in Pakistan’s efforts to expand overseas employment opportunities beyond traditional labor markets in the Middle East.
“After prolonged efforts, doors to employment for the Pakistani workforce in Italy are about to open,” Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said, calling the quota allocation a “historic milestone.”
The jobs will be available across multiple sectors, including shipbreaking, hospitality, healthcare and agriculture, with opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled workers in professions such as welding, technical trades, food services, housekeeping, nursing, medical technology and farming.
The agreement comes as Pakistan seeks to diversify overseas employment destinations for its workforce and increase remittance inflows, which remain a key source of foreign exchange for the country’s economy.
The ministry said a second meeting of the Pakistan-Italy Joint Working Group on labor cooperation is scheduled to be held in Islamabad in February 2026, where implementation and future cooperation are expected to be discussed.
