Pakistani expatriates are an indispensable sinew of the economy, as well as society and play a pivotal role in the progress and prosperity of the country. Mindful of this significant factor, the Pakistan government has embarked upon innovative, and strategically important initiatives to inject vibrancy to the economy, jettisoning past baggage.
One of the major leaps is the approval of the Policy Planning Cell, 2004, with the objective of designing an employment and immigration policy for overseas employment, a human resources development policy, rationalisation and consolidation of Labour laws and fulfilment of international obligations relating to labour issues.
A significant number of Pakistani labourers proceeded abroad for employment due to the hectic efforts of the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis. A total number of 1,84,274 workers went abroad for employment during the last year (2006), as compared to 1,42,135 in 2005, with an increase of 28.57 percent.
The main destination of Pakistanis workers was the UAE, where 1,00,207 persons were recruited. A substantial number of 45,594 nationals proceeded to Saudi Arabia, 12,614, to Oman, 10,545, to Kuwait, 4,757, to Malaysia, 2,247 to Qatar, 1,741 to UK, 1,630 to Bahrain, 1,082 to Korea, 2,020 to US and as many as 2,572 workers to other countries.
These included 74,157 labourers, 14,084 drivers, 10,762 agriculturists, 9,695 masons, 8,819 carpenters, 8,152 technicians, 6,310 steel fixers. The Ministry of Labour and Manpower has also given due importance and share to the unemployed people of Balochistan, as 3,172 residents were sent abroad. While the number of workers from the Punjab province stand at 10,0181, Sindh 14,830 and NWFP 44,937.
High level bilateral contacts have been established with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, China, Yemen, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Korea for the import of manpower from Pakistan. A number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) have also been signed with these countries to explore new labour markets.
To enhance the capability of skilled labour who are proceeding to South Korea, the Ministry of Labour and Manpower has arranged a Korean Language Course at Islamabad and at all the provincial capitals, an official of Labour Ministry said.
He said "Malaysia has been opened up as a new market for the export of manpower of general workers in five sectors, including plantation, services, construction, manufacturing and deep sea fishing". Over one hundred thousand workers would get employment opportunities in Malaysia in the upcoming years, he added. Keeping in view the changing requirements of manpower export to Malaysia, he said, a different set of comprehensive procedures was being devised. A separate pre-departure training course has been made compulsory for all Malaysia bound immigrant workers.
The Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Ghulam Sarwar Khan told APP that manpower export has brought prosperity to million of families and played an anchor role in improving the country's financial position.
He said that remittances from Pakistani expatriates will surge to over $5.2 billion in the current fiscal year, as against $4.62 billion during the last fiscal year. Around 7.5 million overseas Pakistanis live in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East and Far East, Sarwar Khan added.
During the first six months of the current year, these expatriates have repatriated $2.6 billion as foreign remittances. Worker's remittances are the biggest source of foreign exchange earning for Pakistan. Revenue amounting to over Rs 218,887,613 had been generated on account of the registration of immigrants during the year, which was transferred to the government exchequer.
Thus an amount of over Rs 194,161,290 was collected and remitted to the Overseas Pakistani Foundation by the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas the Employment through the registration of emigrants during the year 2005-2006.
The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE) regulates, facilitates and monitors the emigration process conducted by the Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs).
At present, as many as 1,117 OEPs in the private sector are authorised to procure manpower demand from abroad. Manpower demand procured by OEPs is processed through the Protector of Emigrants Working under the BE&OE, which are located at Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Malakand and Rawalpindi, he added.
The government had also set up the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) to provide multiple services to the overseas Pakistanis and their families.
These services include education, health, housing, vocational training, economic rehabilitation of disabled returning Pakistanis, transportation of dead bodies, assistance/payment to Gulf war affectees, issuance of gold and silver cards and launching of pension schemes for overseas Pakistani as they are play a vital in the prosperity of the country.
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