ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia will establish a “state-of-the-art skill university” in Pakistan to meet its demand for skilled workforce for upcoming projects in the Kingdom, Pakistani state media reported, citing an official source.

The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has recently planned to propose allocation of a special quota for Pakistani skilled and semi-skilled workers for NEOM and other upcoming projects, the state-run APP news agency reported.

The proposal for Saudi Arabia to establish a state-of-the-art skill university in Pakistan further aligns the two nations in their pursuit of economic transformation.

“The training of Pakistani workers to meet the rising needs of the Saudi labor market and enhance their skills and capabilities were also key points of discussion” the report read, citing the official.

“The Ministry has proposed collaborative efforts between the Embassy of KSA in Islamabad, the Consulate General (CG) Karachi, and Pakistani authorities to facilitate the entry of new Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) into the Saudi sector.”

The high-level delegation visit aims to align Pakistan’s workforce with Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation program under Vision 2030, fostering a strong partnership for mutual benefit, according to the report.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is a strategic development framework intended to cut the Kingdom’s reliance on oil and develop public service sectors, such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism.

The visit also aims to enhance crucial remittances, contributing to the stability of Pakistan’s economy and well-being of families that solely rely on these financial inflows, the report added.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and brotherly relations. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top destination for remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country.