THE Year 2019 saw a massive increase in overseas employment
of Pakistanis. Over 563000 went abroad and secured jobs. According to the data shared by Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, manpower export to Saudi Arabia registered the most growth of whopping 191 per cent as compared to 2018.
Given the lack of opportunities in the country, there is craze amongst the Pakistani youth to go abroad for a better livelihood and definitely their top choice always remains the holy land of Saudi Arabia – the fraternal country which has always showed openness for Pakistani workers. Given the opportunities arising in Saudi Arabia especially its multibillion dollar New Taif city, we are confident our youth will find more opportunities there this year. Special Assistant on Overseas Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari really deserves appreciation for taking special interest in manpower export to Saudi Arabia which indeed will prove to further strengthening bonds of friendship between the two countries. But there is really need to enhance the size of the skilled workforce as sending technically trained people abroad will drastically help the country multiply its remittances. Of the total manpower exported last year included over 217,499 labourers and 161,226 drivers. This really shows that we continue to rely on the unskilled workers whilst other South Asian countries are taking the lead in preparing a skilled workforce. If we did not train our youth in market based skills, these countries will outclass us in the coming years and grab the massive job opportunities in the Gulf countries. Whilst Punjab government has recently launched a high tech Hunarmand Jawan Training Program, other federating units should also focus on technical training of the youth as per the latest trends so that our youth could secure jobs that are also cropping up in Europe as well as East Asian countries such as Japan. Our authorities concerned should enhance engagements with other Middle Eastern countries especially Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE to ensure maximum export of manpower. Because of poverty, there are youths who cannot afford visa and air travel costs. We will suggest the government to launch a scheme for such poor people so that they could go abroad and earn livelihood. Digital portals should be developed especially with the Gulf countries that set up a direct link between the intending immigrants and foreign employers in order to minimize the role of middleman.
