By Abdul Ghani

More than 400,000 skilled workers have obtained certification and proceeded to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2002, as Pakistan accelerates efforts to expand its pool of internationally employed labour.

In this regard, Pakistan is collaborating with Takamol Holding, which serves the Saudi Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development and its group affiliates, to enhance youth employability, increase remittances, and align its technical workforce with international labour market requirements, according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan.

The document shows that 508,027 assessments have been conducted under the Takamol-linked programme since 2022, while 407,132 skilled workers have obtained certification and proceeded to Saudi Arabia. The programme currently maintains an overall passing rate of 81%.

The figures indicate a sharp rise in participation during recent years. In 2025 alone, assessments totalled 331,427, while another 129,882 had been completed as of April 30, 2026. Earlier, yearly figures stood at 25,848 in 2024, 18,557 in 2023, and 2,313 in 2022, reflecting the rapid expansion of the initiative.

The document outlines several major initiatives aimed at strengthening workforce development and export-oriented technical education in Pakistan. These include training programmes for youth in newly-merged districts, end-to-end employment-linked schemes, and Takamol facilitation and assessment mechanisms for workers seeking employment in Saudi Arabia.

The programme also includes the “Summer of Code” initiative to train 7,000 young people in high-impact information technology skills. In addition, cluster-based training programmes are being implemented in collaboration with provincial Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities, while high-impact IT training has also been introduced in Federal Directorate of Education colleges.

The government is increasingly focusing on demand-driven technical education to meet labour shortages in Gulf countries and other international markets. According to the document, Pakistan currently offers training in 83 trades under the framework. In 2026, authorities added five new centres, bringing the total number of Takamol-affiliated centres to 59 nationwide. Punjab hosts the largest number of centres with 30, followed by 16 in ICT — including Rawalpindi Division, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan — while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seven centres, Sindh five, and Balochistan one.

The document shows that nine new centre requests have already been forwarded to Takamol, while 45 institutes remain under initial scrutiny for possible inclusion in the programme. Labour market analysts believe the growing certification mechanism could significantly improve Pakistan’s standing as a supplier of technically trained manpower in the Middle East, particularly at a time when Gulf economies are modernising infrastructure, construction, IT, and industrial sectors.

Internationally recognised certification systems not only improve overseas job placement opportunities for Pakistani workers but also help increase wage levels and reduce skill mismatches in foreign labour markets.

Pakistan has long relied on overseas employment as a key source of foreign exchange, with remittances playing a vital role in supporting the national economy. The latest expansion in Takamol-linked programmes is viewed as part of a larger push to institutionalise skill development and create sustainable employment pathways for Pakistani youth.

Credit: INP-WealthPk