Thursday, October 31, 2024
Thursday, October 31, 2024
HomeTravelKSA Asks Pakistan to Stop Sending Beggars, Sick, and Unskilled Workers

KSA Asks Pakistan to Stop Sending Beggars, Sick, and Unskilled Workers

The Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development reported to the Senate Standing Committee on Tuesday about a decrease in overseas employment for Pakistani workers. This decline is due to modernization and advanced technology in other countries, while many Pakistani workers lack necessary skills.

The Secretary also mentioned that there are not enough resources for skill development in Pakistan, which leads to workers from other countries replacing Pakistani workers.

The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, led by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, convened a meeting at the Parliament House. The Secretary informed the committee that the domestic labor force consists of 71.8 million people, while the Pakistani diaspora is 10.7 million, mostly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, the UK, and Canada.

Officials also reported problems with criminal activities among Pakistani workers abroad. In the UAE, 50% of crimes involving the labor force are attributed to Pakistanis. Efforts are being made to hold orientation sessions for immigrants, highlighting that countries like Bangladesh have skilled labor, which Pakistan should emulate.

Recently, an agreement with Saudi Arabia was reached, specifying that beggars, sick people, and unskilled workers should not be sent there. The European Union has requested improvements in the FIA system and border control before offering a small employment quota. Officials warned that failure to control borders and human trafficking could lead to difficult situations.

Middle Eastern countries are now focusing on Africa for their labor needs instead of Pakistan, which is concerning. During the briefing, officials also complained about Pakistanis abroad making TikToks, noting some were giving strange explanations for rain in the UAE in their videos.

Senator Zeeshan Khanzada emphasized the potential in the Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development sector, which is currently being neglected by the government. The Secretary outlined the ministry’s plans for human resource development, emigration, welfare, and investment promotion. This includes facilitating investment for start-ups, coordinating skill development through entities like NAVTTC, and working with international organizations.

The Secretary pointed out the insufficiency of the ministry’s mandate and requested support from the cabinet division. He provided an overview of the ministry’s legal and institutional frameworks, noting that there are 315 sanctioned posts, 207 of which are filled and 108 are vacant.

Senator Zeeshan Khanzada highlighted the seriousness of the situation, noting that some Pakistanis living illegally in Italy identify as non-Pakistanis, while the embassy considers them Pakistani citizens. The Secretary mentioned that 95% of job hunting is driven by the private sector and outlined challenges such as obtaining accurate job data, lack of support from relevant departments, insufficient focus on remittance areas, and the need to improve the immigration system for labor. The committee chairman suggested that better implementation of policies would benefit the country.

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