ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday vowed to empower overseas Pakistanis by helping develop their skills so that they can secure better employment opportunities abroad, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. 

Every year, the world marks International Migrants Day on Dec. 18 to spotlight the contributions of millions of migrants worldwide. It also recognizes migrants’ critical role in labor market worldwide where they fill gaps, drive innovation and entrepreneurship. 

In his statement, Sharif described over 12 million overseas Pakistanis as the country’s “valuable national asset,” noting that their annual remittances of $38 billion are crucial for the cash-strapped country. 

“The Government of Pakistan considers it essential to equip outgoing workers with skills, as success in today’s global economy requires not only technical expertise but also social skills and proficiency in languages,” the PMO quoted Sharif as saying. 

Sharif mentioned that his government was aligning technical and vocational training systems with international standards. 

He said Islamabad is also promoting social training, diverse skills development and foreign language education so that the Pakistani workforce can meet the demands of the modern era.

“Through the European Union Talent Partnership and various Memoranda of Understanding signed with different countries, Pakistan is establishing an organized system to ensure international recognition of overseas Pakistanis’ skills and the protection of their rights,” he said. 

Every year Pakistan exports thousands of skilled and unskilled labor to various countries around the world, particularly the Gulf countries. 

These workers remit billions of dollars collectively for their family members in Pakistan, which ultimately proves crucial for a nation struggling to evade a macroeconomic crisis.