Saudi deputy governor highlights ‘vital role’ of Pakistani diaspora in kingdom’s development

Islamabad: Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Miqran bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the deputy governor of Saudi Arabia’s Ha’il province, met Pakistani ambassador Raja Ali Ejaz on Sunday and appreciated the “vital role” of the Pakistani diaspora in the development of the kingdom.
“He [Al Saud] highlighted the vital role played by the Pakistani diaspora in the development and uplift of the kingdom and said that the kingdom looked forward to benefiting from the expertise of Pakistani people in the success of Vision 2030,” the Pakistani embassy in Saudi Arabia said in a statement. 
Saudi Arabia announced its Vision 2030 reform plan in 2016, a package of economic and social policies designed to free the kingdom from dependence on oil exports.
Ha’il province is considered the breadbasket of Saudi Arabia and is known for its production of wheat, barley, potatoes, dates and tangerine. 
“There are about 120,000 Pakistanis working in this province, who are mostly employed in agricultural farms and construction businesses,” the embassy statement said. “Hundreds of Pakistani doctors and other professionals are also employed in hospitals, hotels and other departments of the region.”
Over 2.6 million Pakistanis currently live in Saudi Arabia, the biggest job market for Pakistani nationals and a major source of foreign remittances.