South Korea has enhanced its quota for Pakistani workers from 1,000 to 1,100 annually, revealed the officials of Korean Embassy in end of the year meeting with a select group of journalists here on Tuesday.

The officials of embassy said that the South Korean government decided to enhance quota by 100 from 1,000 to 1,100 for skilled Pakistani labor from the next year.

Quota enhancement depends on reputation and performance of Pakistani skilled workers working with various multinational and local Korean companies there. "Unfortunately, overstaying and illegal workers are a biggest challenge for South Korean government which may lead to reduction in workers quota in future," an official hinted.

South Korea is a free religious country where Pakistani Muslim workers are around 2,000 in number and another 2,000 students are getting education out of 13,000 population of Pakistan living there.

Pakistani skilled workers may get three years work visa which is extendable for another two years upon fulfillment of visa requirements, the officials said.

In year 2020, various mega companies and agriculture expert are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan which helped strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, the officials maintained.

"A Korean agriculture expert is expected next year to join Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in its efforts to introduce Korean technology and experience in the agriculture sector. We want Pakistan to get benefit of experience and technology to increase per yield production as 60 percent population's dependence is on agriculture income," the officials added.

A mega telecom company is also expected to visit Pakistan. Already some Korean companies are working in auto, energy and hydel sectors, etc, in Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019