ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development assisted over 258,000 Pakistanis to go to Saudi Arabia for prospective job opportunities in various sectors during the first 10 months of the year.
According to the data compiled by the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, manpower export to Saudi Arabia registered a marked increase of 207 percent in 2019 as compared to last year when 84,091 Pakistanis went to the Kingdom.
Some 176,947 Pakistanis also found jobs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), exhibiting a nominal growth of 1.7 percent.
The number of Pakistani immigrants to Oman had also increased by 5.8 percent as 23,998 Pakistanis proceeded to the said country during the 10-month period as compared to 22,668 in the corresponding period of 2018.
An official source at the ministry told APP that the special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, had held consultations with the relevant authorities in different states to augment the number of Pakistani workers abroad.
He said that Zulfi Bukhari had formally requested the Saudi authorities to enhance the number of Pakistani workers in the multi-billion-dollar project, the New Taif City.
He said that Saudi Arabia had also extended an offer for Pakistan’s manpower export through “Musaned,” a digital platform launched by the Kingdom to facilitate labor recruitment process and ensure the protection of workers’ rights.
The process would take some months and after that the Pakistani workforce would be sent to Saudi Arabia through the online platform, he added.
The official said the ministry was also in the process of linking up its digital portal with the UAE to set up a direct link between its intending immigrants and foreign employers.
The initiative would eventually minimize the middle man’s role in the recruitment process, he added, and help the country train its workforce as per the international markets’ requirements.
He said the UAE ministry of human resources and Emiratization had offered to give access to its labor market’s database to Pakistan which would provide updated information of job opportunities in the UAE.
Sharing details of the recent visit of Zulfi Bukhari to Qatar, he said that the SAPM had held a fruitful meeting with Qatar’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Yousaf Mohamed-Al-Othman Fakhroo, and highlighted the potential of the Pakistani workforce.
Bukhari also urged the Qatari minister to expedite the public sector recruitment in the health and energy sectors.
During the meeting, the SAPM also emphasized the need for digital connectivity between the two ministries, which would make the recruitment mechanism more efficient.
Pakistani manpower export to Saudi Arabia goes up by 207 percent
Pakistani manpower export to Saudi Arabia goes up by 207 percent
- A nominal growth of 1.7 percent was also recorded in the number of Pakistanis who found jobs in the UAE
- Officials say Zulfi Bukhari held meetings in different countries to increase the number of Pakistani workers overseas
Saudi Arabia condemns deadly mosque bombing in Pakistan’s capital
- The Kingdom rejects targeting of places of worship, expresses solidarity with Pakistan
- Saudi foreign ministry offers condolences to victims’ families, wishes injured recovery
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia on Friday condemned the suicide bombing that targeted a mosque in Islamabad, expressing solidarity with Pakistan after the attack killed and injured dozens on the outskirts of the capital.
The blast, which struck during Friday prayers, killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 160 others, according to Pakistani authorities.
In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Saudi Arabia denounced the targeting of a place of worship and rejected all forms of violence and extremism.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist bombing that targeted a mosque in the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islamabad,” the statement said.
It added that the Kingdom stood firmly against attacks on civilians and places of worship and reaffirmed its support for Pakistan in confronting militant violence.
The ministry also extended condolences to the families of those killed and expressed sympathy with the Pakistani government and people, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.
No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which Pakistani officials say is being investigated.
