ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have remained the preferred destinations for Pakistani migrant workers since the beginning of the year, said a top government functionary on Monday, as more than 450,000 people left the South Asian state in 2023 while pursuing suitable employment opportunities.
According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2022-23, a total of 829,549 Pakistanis went abroad in search of better financial opportunities last year. Among them, 514,725 people, who accounted for over 62 percent of the total number, chose to relocate to Saudi Arabia, while 15.5 percent, or 129,000 workers, decided to move to the UAE to secure their livelihood.
Workers’ remittances are important to Pakistan’s economy, particularly at a time when the country’s foreign exchange reserves have rapidly depleted and the government has repeatedly sought financial assistance from friendly nations and international lenders.
“In the first seven months of 2023 [from January to July], a total of 450,110 Pakistanis left their home country while looking for jobs abroad,” Akram Ali Khowaja, director general of the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment at the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, told Arab News.
Quoting the statistics compiled by his organization, he said that Saudi Arabia emerged as the primary destination for Pakistani migrant workers this year, with 205,515 people choosing the kingdom as their new workplace.
This was followed by the UAE where 121,745 migrant workers decided to relocate. Other Gulf states, such as Oman received 34,140 workers, Qatar welcomed 35,637 of them, and Bahrain opened its doors for 7,441 Pakistanis.
Beyond the Gulf region, 16,166 opted for Malaysia, while China recorded 990 arrivals from Pakistan.
“There are many new development projects underway in Saudi Arabia,” Khowaja added. “This has created a lot of opportunities for overseas skilled workers.”
He said another reason for the movement of large number of migrant workers was the backlog left due to the travel ban during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Last year, a large number of Pakistanis also went to Gulf states, with a majority of them going to Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” he continued.
Hamzah Gilani, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s consulate in Jeddah, said the kingdom had emerged as a captivating hub for global workers, notably those from Pakistan.
“It is due to its flourishing business landscape, multitude of projects, and Vision 2030 initiative,” he told Arab News over the phone from Jeddah.
“Saudi Arabia is making remarkable strides in enhancing the business ecosystem, attracting foreign investment, and fostering private-sector job opportunities,” he added.
Naveed Ahmed, an engineer from Lahore who went to Saudi Arabia in February, said he decided to leave his job with a German multinational firm in Pakistan to move to the kingdom.
“I was working in a German company but got a good opportunity in the kingdom since they are paying much better and providing plenty of growth opportunities,” he told Arab News.
“Saudi companies are competing with multinational organizations to attract good human resource which is evident that they are progressing at a fast pace,” he said.
Muhammad Ahmed, who originally belongs to Sahiwal and works as a driver in Jeddah, said he was the sole breadwinner of his family of nine and had decided to leave his home to support them.
“I got the job through a recruitment agency after trying for two years,” he told Arab New.
“The cost of living has increased in Pakistan, and I had to come to Saudi Arabia to ensure that my loved ones continued to have a roof over their heads and food on the table,” he continued, adding that it was a challenging decision for him, though the well-being of his family kept him going.
“I don’t feel too alienated now since there are a lot of Pakistani workers in Jeddah and I have also got a chance to visit Makkah time and again,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, UAE continue to remain top destinations for Pakistani migrant workers this year
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Saudi Arabia, UAE continue to remain top destinations for Pakistani migrant workers this year
- A top Pakistani official says the kingdom’s flourishing business landscape, development projects are attracting skilled labor
- New migrant workers from the country say they were forced to move abroad due to constantly rising cost of living in Pakistan
Pakistan’s drug enforcement agency nets record ‘ice’ haul in major anti-trafficking operation
- The Anti-Narcotics Force seizes 224 kilograms of the substance while it was being transported to Belgium
- The authorities also apprehended three suspects, among them two Afghan nationals, who were trying to escape
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) announced on Thursday it had achieved a “monumental victory” in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking by intercepting the largest consignment of methamphetamine, popularly called “ice,” in the nation’s history.
Methamphetamine, known for its potent and addictive properties, has seen a significant rise in use not just in Pakistan but globally, contributing to a burgeoning health crisis.
The drug’s accessibility and escalating abuse have heightened law enforcement and public health efforts to curtail its spread.
This major seizure highlights the ongoing challenges and the critical need for continued vigilance and international cooperation in combating drug trafficking and its societal impacts.
“A total of 224 kilograms of Methamphetamine (Ice) was seized by the diligent ANF team at the Karachi port,” an official statement announced. “Disguised within five containers labelled as ‘Soapstone’ exports from Afghanistan to Belgium, this illicit substance was artfully concealed within the container’s roof and doors.”
The authorities also apprehended three suspects involved in the smuggling attempt, among them two Afghan nationals.
“The suspects were attempting to flee to Afghanistan via the Torkham border when they were intercepted by ANF Team,” the statement continued.
It added the intercepting the massive methamphetamine consignment by ANF prevented its distribution and potential harm to countless people.
Pakistan’s inflation sees lowest increase in nearly two years at 17.3% in April
- Pakistan has been beset by inflation above 20% since May 2022, registering a high of 38% in May 2023
- Month on month inflation was down 0.4%, showing negative growth for the first time since last year in June
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April rose 17.3% from a year earlier, data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday, the lowest reading in nearly two years and below the finance ministry’s projections for the month.
Pakistan has been beset by inflation above 20% since May 2022, registering a high of 38% in May 2023, as it has navigated reforms as part of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme.
Month on month inflation was down 0.4%, showing negative growth for the first time since June 2023.
The Finance Ministry in its monthly economic report said it expected inflation to hover between 18.5% and 19.5% in April and ease further in May to 17.5%-18.5%.
Pakistan’s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 22% for the seventh straight policy meeting on Monday, hours before the IMF executive board approved $1.1 billion in funding under a $3 billion standby arrangement signed last year.
The bank’s monetary policy committee said in a statement it was “prudent” to continue with its monetary policy stance at this stage to bring inflation down to the target range.
‘Well aware of our constitutional limits,’ Pakistan’s army chief declares at PAF graduation parade
- General Asim Munir says Article 19 of Pakistan’s constitution sets limits on freedom of expression
- He says a strong air force is essential to prevent Pakistan from being at the mercy of aggressors
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir emphasized the armed forces’ awareness of their constitutional limits and expectations for legal compliance from others while addressing the graduation parade at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Academy in Risalpur on Thursday.
The military’s involvement in politics has been a contentious issue in Pakistan, with public criticism intensifying since the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
The country’s military has publicly denied intentions to interfere in political affairs more recently, asserting a commitment to uphold democracy and remain apolitical, amid growing public scrutiny over its past involvements in political matters.
“We are well aware of our constitutional limits and expect others to prioritize adherence to the constitution as well,” the army chief was quoted as saying by the military media wing, ISPR, in a statement.
He said in his address to the graduating cadets that Article 19 of the Pakistani constitution set limits on freedom of expression as well.
“Those who openly violate the clear restrictions on freedom of expression set by the constitution cannot point fingers at others,” he asserted.
General Munir noted specific technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and quantum computing, were expanding the scope and transforming the use of air power.
However, he warned against an arms race in the region, saying it could disrupt the balance of power in and around South Asia.
The army chief pointed out that a strong air force was essential to prevent the country from being at the mercy of external aggressors.
“The recent war in Gaza is a fresh example of the miseries that wars can bring,” he said. “The indiscriminate killing of elderly, women and children in Gaza is proof that violence is increasing in the world.”
He also criticized India for its policies in the dispute Kashmir region, pointing out it would not be able to suppress the “voices of freedom” and promising continued Pakistani support on moral, political and diplomatic levels for those resisting New Delhi’s rule.
Pakistan anticipates more high-level Saudi business delegations amid stronger bilateral ties
- Foreign office says the two countries are involved in robust dialogue that has gained significant momentum
- It categorically denies reports that Pakistan is providing military bases to any foreign country against anyone
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan anticipates continued visits by high-level business delegations from Saudi Arabia in the upcoming weeks to further explore investment opportunities facilitated under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the foreign office announced on Thursday.
The statement came just days after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif concluded his visit to Riyadh, where he addressed the two-day World Economic Forum conference that began on April 28.
During his visit, Sharif met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and several Saudi ministers to strengthen bilateral relations and economic partnerships between the two nations.
Prior to his visit to the kingdom, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan was in Islamabad with a large delegation, saying the Pakistani administration’s resolve to strengthen the economy would yield “significant benefits.”
“Saudi investors have been coming to Pakistan in recent months, and engaged with the SIFC in terms of exploring opportunities for Saudi investments in Pakistan, and this is an ongoing process, and we expect similar high-level business delegations to undertake visits to Pakistan in the coming days and weeks as well,” foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters in her weekly media briefing.
She added that both countries were involved in robust and mutually beneficial dialogue that had gained significant momentum in recent months.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are engaged in consultations with each other in terms of increased Saudi investments in Pakistan, including in the energy domain,” she added.
Asked about reports of Pakistan providing military bases to the United States, Baloch called them baseless rumors.
“Pakistani has no plan to provide any bases to a foreign country against any other country,” she continued.
Speaking about the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s summit in Gambia, the spokesperson said the country’s deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar would highlight the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the imperatives of solidarity and unity of the Muslim Ummah, rising Islamophobia, issues of climate change, terrorism, and other contemporary global challenges.
She said Pakistan strongly condemned the escalating violations of human rights by Israel and increasing number of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
“Israel’s actions constitute a breach of international law, including humanitarian laws and other pertinent international laws, and these acts also undermine any prospects of a two-state solution,” she added.
Pakistan vows ‘foolproof security’ for Chinese nationals after militant attacks
- Interior minister says government implementing strict security protocols for safe movement of Chinese workers
- A suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese nationals near Dasu earlier this year, killing five of them
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday the government would ensure “foolproof security” for Chinese nationals following militant attacks targeting them in the country where most of them have been working on infrastructure development projects.
Naqvi made this assurance during his visit to the Chinese consulate in Karachi, where he discussed the issue in his conversation with a top diplomat Yang Yuandong, who welcomed the minister to the facility.
Five Chinese nationals were killed earlier this year in March after a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into their convoy which was on its way from Islamabad to the site of a key hydroelectric dam in Dasu.
Prior to that, Chinese workers also came under attack by Baloch separatists near the Gwadar port. The incident led to the death of eight militants.
“It is our duty to ensure foolproof security for Chinese citizens,” Naqvi said during the during his visit to the consulate. “Strict implementation of standard operating procedures for safe movement of Chinese citizens is being ensured.”
Pakistan took action against a number of senior officials after the Dasu attack, saying they showed negligence and had failed to follow the security protocol.
He said the “enemy” wanted to undermine the China-Pakistan friendship but would not succeed.
According to a statement circulated by the ministry, the Chinese diplomat expressed satisfaction with the overall security plan for the protection of the Chinese workers.
