ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain this week stressed the importance of pre-departure training and soft skills for citizens seeking jobs in foreign countries during his visit to the Pakistani consulate in Dubai, the Press Information Department (PID) said. 

The UAE is also home to over 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities in the world, who contribute billions of dollars annually in remittances. The Gulf state is the second-largest source of remittances for Pakistan after Saudi Arabia, making it a crucial source of foreign exchange for the national economy.

Hussain met officers of the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai on Monday during which he discussed with them issues concerning the welfare and facilitation of Pakistani nationals in the UAE. 

“He particularly emphasized the importance of pre-departure training and the imparting of soft skills to better prepare Pakistani workers for overseas job markets,” the PID said on Monday. 

“He noted that the ministry is facilitating the establishment of credible and reputable training institutions to provide skills training in sectors with high employability.”

During the visit, Hussain also toured various sections of the Pakistani consulate and reviewed the delivery of services such as passport issuance, national identity cards, community welfare and other public facilitation services, the PID said. 

Pakistan and the UAE maintain close political and economic relations, with Abu Dhabi playing a pivotal role in supporting Islamabad during periods of financial stress through deposits, oil facilities and investment commitments over the years.

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States, and a key destination for Pakistani exports, particularly food, textiles and construction services.