Web Desk: Pakistan is witnessing a sharp increase in demand for its skilled workforce across the Middle East and Europe, driven by proactive overseas employment policies, a senior official said.
Ghulam Mustafa Malik, focal person at the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, said effective and dynamic initiatives led by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain have opened doors to dignified employment opportunities for Pakistanis abroad, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and several European countries.
Malik said the federal minister held a series of high-level meetings last week on the sidelines of the Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh, the Abu Dhabi Dialogue 2026 and the Dubai World Government Summit.
During these engagements, Pakistan reached understandings with multiple countries to strengthen labor cooperation, promote transparent recruitment systems and expand skilled workforce exchanges, he added.
According to Malik, meetings with senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Philippines focused on labor agreements, skill partnerships, digital labor systems and transparent recruitment mechanisms.
Meanwhile, discussions with Bangladesh’s adviser on overseas employment, Dr Asif Nazrul, centered on training, human resource development and shared challenges faced by labor-sending countries.
Malik said a meeting with the Philippine secretary for migrant workers highlighted successful models in pre-departure training, digitalization and overseas worker protection.
In talks with Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower, both sides made progress on a proposed labor memorandum of understanding, improved facilities for Pakistani workers and access to Kuwait’s PAM portal, he added.
Separately, the federal minister met a delegation of the Pakistan Business Council Sharjah, where both sides discussed challenges faced by overseas Pakistanis, emerging employment opportunities and closer cooperation between the government and the business community.
At the meeting, Chaudhry Salik Hussain reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with global partners to promote organized, safe and dignified employment for its citizens abroad.
Malik said the overseas Pakistanis minister has taken what he described as practical and transformative steps, with positive results now visible.
He added that the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) will soon publish a comprehensive two-year performance report of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, outlining the achievements of the ministry and its attached departments for public review.
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