Pakistani Diaspora--an indispensable sinew of the economy--and the society plays a pivotal role in the progress and prosperity of the country. Being a valuable asset of the society, this human resource not only provides imperative prop-up to the developmental process but also helps harness real potentials of the economy.
Mindful of this significant factor, the Pakistan government has embarked upon innovative, bold and strategically important initiatives to inject vibrancy to the economy, jettisoning past baggage. One of the major leaps is the setting up of Policy Planning Cell, 2004, with the objective of designing employment and immigration policy for overseas employment, human resources development policy, rationalisation and consolidation of labour laws and fulfilment of international obligations relating to labour issues.
A significant number of Pakistani workers proceeded abroad for employment due to the hectic efforts of the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis. A total 1,84,274 workers went abroad for employment during last year (2006) as compared to 1,42,135 in 2005 with an increase of 28.57 percent.
The main destination of Pakistani workers was UAE where 1,00,207 persons were recruited. A substantial number of 45,594 Pakistanis went 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 2,572 workers went to other countries. This number includes 74,157 labourers, 14,084 drivers, 10,762 agriculturists, 9,695 masons, 8,819 carpenters, 8,152 technicians, and 6,310 steel fixers.
The Ministry of Labour and Manpower also gave due importance and share to the unemployed people of Balochistan, as 3,172 residents were sent abroad, while the number of workers from Punjab province was 10,0181, Sindh 14,830 and NWFP 44,937.
Bilateral contacts were established with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, China, Yemen, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Korea for import of manpower from Pakistan. A number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) had also been signed with these countries to explore new labour markets.
To enhance the capability of skilled labour to proceed to South Korea, the Ministry of Labour and Manpower has arranged Korean language course in Islamabad and in all provincial capitals, an official of Labour Ministry said. He said: "Malaysia has been opened up as a new market for export of manpower of general workers in five sectors--plantation, services, constructions, manufacturing and deep-sea fishing."
Over 0.1 million 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 procedure was 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 had brought about prosperity to millions of families and played an anchor role in improving the country's financial position.
He said that the remittances from Pakistani Diaspora would surge to over $5.2 billion in the current fiscal year, against $4.62 billion during last fiscal year. Around 7.5 million overseas Pakistanis live in various countries, including in United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East and Far East, he said.
During first six months of the current year these expatriates repatriated $2.6 billion as foreign exchange remittances. "Workers' remittances are the biggest source of foreign exchange earning for Pakistan," he added.
Revenue amounting to over Rs 218,887,613 had been generated on account of registration of the 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 Employment through registration of emigrants during 2005-06.
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, 1,117 OEPs in private sector are authorised to procure manpower demand from abroad. Manpower demand procured by OEPs is processed through Protector of Emigrants Working under BE&OE which are located at Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Malakand and Rawalpindi, he added. The government had also set up 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 scheme for overseas Pakistanis as they are playing vital for the prosperity of the country.