ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development held a meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Zeeshan Khanzada.
The committee expressed deep concern over the government’s apparent neglect of the sector’s potential.
The committee was briefed on the ministry’s proposed master plan, which aims to facilitate investments, coordinate skill development, and collaborate with international organisations. However, the secretary of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) emphasised the need for increased support from the Cabinet Division to effectively implement the plan.
A critical issue highlighted during the meeting was the decline in overseas employment of Pakistani labour. This decline is attributed to factors such as a lack of skilled workforce, competition from other countries, and the prevalence of criminal activities among Pakistani workers abroad.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Kazim Ali Shah, Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, and senior officials from the MOPHRD.
The chairman of the committee commenced the meeting by emphasising that there is a lot of potential in the Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development sector, which is being grimly neglected by the government.
The secretary of MOPHRD briefed the members on the ministry’s mandate, stressing the proposed master plan for HRD, emigration, welfare, and investment promotions. This includes facilitating investment for start-ups, coordinating skill development through entities such as NAVTTC, and actively coordinating with international organizations. The secretary pointed out the insufficiency of the mandate and requested support from the Cabinet Division. He also provided an overview of the ministry’s legal and institutional frameworks.
Additionally, the secretary of MOPHRD reported on the ministry’s existing organogram, highlighting that there are 315 sanctioned posts, of which, 207 are filled and 108 are vacant. The ministry officials also shared the overall budget with committee members.
Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro suggested that the ministry officials bring detailed information on the sanctioned posts to the next meeting.
The secretary also reported that the domestic labour force comprises 71.8 million people, while the diaspora includes 10.7 million individuals, primarily in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, the UK, and Canada. Ministry officials further reported a declining trend in the overseas employment of Pakistani labour. This decline is attributed to the modernization and advanced technology in these societies, while a significant portion of the Pakistani labor force remains unskilled. Additionally, there is a lack of resources and skill development within the domestic labour force, resulting in workers from other countries replacing Pakistani workers.
Moreover, there are issues of criminal activities among the Pakistani workforce abroad. For instance, 50 per cent of the crime rate among the labour force in the UAE is reportedly attributed to Pakistanis. The officials also informed that efforts are underway to conduct orientation sessions for immigrants. They highlighted that skilled labour from countries such as Bangladesh serves as an inspiration, and Pakistan needs to follow suit.
Senator Raja Nasir Abbas addressed the pressing issue of Pakistanis living illegally in Iraq to earn a livelihood and suggested legalizing the status of these diaspora members, who are often subjected to poor treatment. Senator Zeeshan Khanzada emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting that a segment of Pakistanis living illegally in Italy identify as non-Pakistanis, while the embassy identifies them as Pakistani citizens.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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