ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, said on Thursday Islamabad was working to increase the number of skilled Pakistanis going for work to Saudi Arabia which requires innovative project management and well-trained labor as it implements the Vision 2030 economic plan, his office said in a statement.
Pakistanis are one of the largest migrant communities in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated 2.64 million working there as of 2023. Although 97 percent of them are blue-collar workers, there is a rising demand for skilled workers in the Kingdom as it moves to consolidate its economy on modern lines under the Vision 2030 program, a strategic development framework intended to cut reliance on oil. The plan is aimed at developing public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism.
Islamabad has been working on a new education policy to impart technical and other skills to at least a million youth per annum to export better-trained human resource to Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, according to Pakistan’s education ministry.
“Efforts are being made to further increase the number of skilled workers,” Hussain was quoted as saying in a statement on Thursday after he attended the second Global Labour Market Conference being held in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 29-30. “Saudi Arabia values Pakistani workers and skilled professionals.”
The Global Labor Market Conference brings together policymakers, labor leaders, academics, and business pioneers worldwide to inspire innovative solutions to labor market challenges. As the only platform of its kind, the GLMC fosters high-level discussions on workforce dynamics, skills development, and labor policies shaping the future of work. This year’s conference has over 180 speakers, 5,000 participants and more than 70 international ministers.
“Hussain emphasized that Pakistan is committed to organizing and activating the labor market in collaboration with experts,” the statement from his office added.
“I believe the biggest benefit of such conferences [Global Labor Market Conference, Riyadh] is that even today, they mentioned that Pakistan is our number one preferred market,” Hussain said in a video shared by his ministry.
“And god willing, soon Takamul [Saudi company] will further expand its operations in Pakistan, and they will have collaborations with several [Pakistani] universities also.
“So, I believe it is a very encouraging thing that Saudi Arabia also gives priority to Pakistan and Pakistani workers.”
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq visited the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) where he said the next two years would be crucial for Pakistan in expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia and capitalizing on “abundant opportunities” in the Kingdom’s construction, information technology, health care and hotels and hospitality sectors.
He stressed the need for Pakistan to impart better skills to its workforce so that they could secure gainful employment in the Kingdom.
“If we do not claim our share immediately, it will be taken by competitors but to achieve this, Pakistan needs to focus on improving its workforce by imparting training as per Saudi requirements,” Farooq added.
