ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Wednesday assumed the chair of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Asian countries of labour origin and destination, for next two years.
This is for the first time that Pakistan has received the chairmanship of the platform since it was established in 2008.
Minister for Industries and Production Khusro Bakhtayar accepted the invitation on behalf of the government of Pakistan at the ongoing summit that will be held till October 29, 2021.
Bakhtayar is leading the Pakistani delegation at 2-day Sixth Ministerial consultation of ADD being held in Dubai. Pakistan will take over Chairmanship of ADD on last day, 27th October of the consultation.
Yesterday, the minister led high-level panel discussions on employment landscape, migrant worker’s skills examination & recognition, building technological solutions to migration challenges and ADD’s priorities in contributing to global consultations on migration.
In his remarks, the minister thanked hosts UAE. He appreciated the level of discourse during the sessions and reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to carry discourse forward in next two years through a consultative and collaborative process.
Moreover, he said that Pakistan would focus on skill recognition and opportunities for female migrant worker.
The ADD consists of the 12 member states of the Colombo Process (CP), namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam; and six Gulf countries of destination: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Malaysia.
The permanent secretariat is provided by the UAE and the outgoing chair-in-office was Sri Lanka.
