Key points
- Minister Salik Hussain attended the second Global Labour Conference in Saudi Arabia
- There is rising demand for skilled workers in Saudi Arabia
- Islamabad working on new policy to impart technical skills to a million youth per annum
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, 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, according to Arab News
Although 97 per cent 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.
Federal Minister of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain visited #Riyadh from January 28-30 to attend 2nd edition of Global Labour Market Conference 2025. pic.twitter.com/epWqOKxGe4
— Pakistan Embassy Saudi Arabia (@PakinSaudiArab) January 31, 2025
The plan is aimed at developing public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism.
New education policy
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 resources 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 Conference held in Saudi Arabia from January 29-30. “Saudi Arabia values Pakistani workers and skilled professionals.”
Efforts are being made to further increase the number of skilled workers.” – Overseas Pakistanis Minister Salik Hussain
“Hussain emphasised that Pakistan is committed to organising and activating the labour market in collaboration with experts,” the statement added.
Presence in Saudi Arabia
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.
