By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s overseas workforce is facing a decline in demand, particularly in the Gulf region, due to a perceived lack of skills and poor behavior, a Senate committee was told on Tuesday.
The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, expressed concern over the government’s neglect of the sector’s potential.
Dr. Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, presented a grim picture, citing a 50 percent crime rate among the UAE labor force attributed to Pakistanis, Dawn newspaper reported.
UAE authorities have also raised concerns over inappropriate behavior by some Pakistanis.
“The committee was further informed that UAE authorities have recently expressed concern over the inappropriate behavior of some Pakistanis in their country, which includes making videos of women in Dubai without their consent.”
The committee was informed of a decline in overseas employment opportunities for Pakistani labor due to a lack of skills and resources, leading Gulf employers to turn to workers from other countries, such as Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s diaspora, estimated at 10.7 million, primarily resides in Saudi Arabia, UAE, US, UK, and Canada. However, the governments of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait have raised concerns over issues related to overseas Pakistanis.
The committee also discussed the issue of organized gangs of Pakistani beggars operating in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with 90% of beggars arrested in Saudi Arabia being Pakistani.
… in September last year, organised gangs of Pakistani beggars were found operating in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and traveled to these countries as pilgrims.”
“Most of these people visit Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas and Saudi authorities have reported that 90 percent of all beggars arrested in the country, were Pakistanis.”
A recent agreement with Saudi Arabia emphasizes the need for skilled workers, with a focus on not sending unskilled, sick, or destitute individuals. The European Union has also demanded improvements in border control and the FIA system before offering a small employment quota.
Committee members urged the ministry to address the plight of Pakistanis living illegally in Iraq and Italy.
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