Faiza Tehseen

The establishment of a comprehensive Labour Mobility Corridor (LMC) is urgently needed to enhance the employability of the Pakistani workforce in the international job market.

“Aligning Pakistani human capital with global employment demands is the need of the hour,” a senior official from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development told WealthPK on condition of anonymity. He said international job markets, particularly in the Middle East and Europe, are full of potential and can be tapped by equipping the Pakistani workforce with skills through the integration of vocational training, information technology, and other competencies.

“To achieve this goal, the government can enhance international partnerships to strengthen its human capital. Regulatory reforms are also crucial to meet global employment standards,” the ministry official said. He said more than 200 skill centres across Pakistan are providing technical and vocational education to those seeking employment abroad. “These centres offer training in various sectors, including construction, hospitality, IT, healthcare, and other skills aligned with the requirements of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union.”

The ministry official said: “The government is also focusing on integrating both life and soft skills into vocational training programmes. These skills include communication, problem-solving, teamwork, interpersonal skills, and work ethics, which are highly valued, particularly in GCC countries.” The official said: “To facilitate legal and structured labour mobility, the Pakistani government has signed several Memorandums of Understanding with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar to secure employment opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers.

“The government has also launched skill development programmes in agriculture, energy, and services in collaboration with some EU countries,” he said. The ministry official said these initiatives also aim to curb illegal migration. “Recently, Pakistan and Italy signed an MoU to prevent illegal migration and provide employment opportunities for Pakistani workers in Italy.” He said: “Pilot mobility programmes will also be launched to offer vocational and language training to Pakistanis seeking jobs in Italy.

After nine years of consistent effort, Italy is the first EU country to sign an MoU for the recruitment of Pakistani workers. This will also help open up more employment opportunities in other EU countries.” He said migrant resource centres need to be established to streamline the overseas employment process. He said Pakistan is revising its national vocational qualification framework to ensure that worker certifications meet the standards of both GCC and EU countries.

“To facilitate and regulate the emigration process, the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment is playing a key role by monitoring the activities of overseas employment promoters to ensure ethical and transparent recruitment practices that protect the rights of migrant workers.”

Meanwhile, speaking to WealthPK, Ali Sher Khan, Chief Executive Officer of foreign employment consultancy Aiteza International, also emphasised the importance of establishing an LMC to open new avenues for Pakistani workers in the global job market. “Equipping the workforce with standard and relevant skills will significantly contribute to economic growth through increased remittances and the transfer of technology and knowledge,” he underscored.

Credit: INP-WealthPk