In a collaborative effort, Pakistan is eager to meet Saudi Arabia's growing demand for a skilled workforce, with the goal of sending over one million workers annually. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030, aiming to diversify its economy away from oil dependency.
Discussions between Nawaf Al Malki, Saudi Ambassador to Islamabad, and Jawad Soharb Malik, Pakistan's Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, have been pivotal in this endeavor.
According to Soharb, "the Saudi Vision 2030 needs millions of expatriate workers." Currently, approximately 500,000 Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia each year. However, this number may well exceed one million as Pakistan steps up its commitment to meet Saudi Arabia's growing labor needs.
The two nations are set to initiate the process of forming a bilateral agreement to facilitate this labor exchange, further strengthening the ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
As per the Ministry of Human Resources in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia currently employs approximately 2.64 million Pakistanis, with 1.3 million of them working in the private sector. This includes 2.2 million men and over 52,000 women, highlighting the diversity of Pakistani workers in the kingdom.
In 2020, an estimated 1.5 million Pakistani laborers were projected to be working in Saudi Arabia. The relationship between the two nations continues to flourish, with significant financial support from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, and diplomatic visits indicating a strong partnership.
The loan of $3 billion provided by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan in December, aimed at strengthening Pakistan's economy, and its extension in 2021 underscore the significance of this bond.
