APP
Minister of State Muhammad Awn Saqlain told the National Assembly on Friday that around 1.871 million Pakistanis had gone abroad for employment over the past three years. Responding to a question during the question hour, he said the government was expanding technical and vocational training to create more overseas job opportunities and increase remittances.
He said the workers who went abroad included accountants, nurses, data engineers, advisers and television technicians, among other professionals.
However, the number of engineers going abroad remained relatively low, while doctors were in high demand within Pakistan, he added. Saqlain said overseas employment opportunities depended on demand from destination countries. The relevant Community Welfare Attachés communicated these requirements, which were then followed up by the concerned authorities.
He said visa restrictions in some countries also affected employment opportunities for engineers. Nurses, meanwhile, were in high demand in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The minister said more than 10 million Pakistanis living abroad contributed to the country’s economy through remittances, which amounted to around $40 billion annually.
He said the government was focusing on skills development through technical and vocational training institutions, including the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), as well as information technology institutions.
He expressed hope that expanding skills training and overseas employment opportunities would help increase annual remittances to $80 billion over the next two years.
Responding to a supplementary question about illegal immigration, Saqlain described the issue as sensitive and said Pakistanis travelling abroad through illegal routes faced serious risks, including fatal incidents. He said the government had taken action against human traffickers and agents involved in illegal migration, particularly in central Punjab. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Interior Ministry had conducted operations and arrested suspects, he added.
The minister also referred to agreements with countries, including Italy, aimed at improving cooperation on migration-related matters.
He said the government had established a welfare mechanism to provide financial grants to Pakistanis injured in accidents abroad, adding that the initiative was intended to support affected citizens and their families.