By Atif Khan
Job is one of the most searched terms on the internet. Most Pakistanis search for "overseas jobs in Pakistan." Many Pakistanis want to go abroad due to high inflation and unemployment. In 2022, the cost of basic necessities for an average household was Rs 20,000, but it has now jumped to Rs 50,000.
The high inflation and sluggish economy have increased unemployment too.
According to the International Labour Organization, more than 5.6 million Pakistanis are actively seeking work. Those employed often report lower wages. An average Pakistani earning less than Rs 50,000 believes that if he goes abroad he can earn up to $3,000 per month. Similarly, a laborer earning Rs 30,000 thinks he could save two thousand riyals if he gets a job in Gulf. Not only Pakistanis are desperate for work migration, but the government also want to send more Pakistanis abraod to earn foreign exchange. However, despite government ambitions and individual aspirations, the number of immigrants is falling. Before exploring the topic further, let us have a look at Pakistan's immigration landscape.
Background: Since 1971, more than 11 million Pakistanis have migrated to 54 countries for employment. Over 90 percent go to Gulf countries, mainly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Shehbaz Akbar, head of the non-governmental organization Speak Trust, believes that Pakistanis migrate to Gulf countries for two reasons. One is the ease of obtaining visas through friends and relatives, and the second is the continuous demand for labor due to continual development. However, Akbar highlights various challenges in Gulf countries. Salaries are low as compared to developed countries, and immigrants may face human rights challenges due to the strict Kafala system. A Pakistani construction worker, security guard, or driver can earn between 1,000 and 2,500 dirhams a month in the Gulf. These wages are lower than those in any developed country. however, migrating to any high paying market is a challenge for most Pakistanis. To obtain a U.S. visit visa, a Pakistani must have a cash deposit of at least 2 million rupees, a history of several bank transactions over the last six months, property ownership, and a monthly income exceeding Rs 100,000. If someone applies for a visa through a consultant or agent, they may charge up to $30,000 for a work visa processing fee to the United States or famous European countries.
Challenges to Workforce Export: Remittances from overseas Pakistanis contribute about 8.5 percent of Pakistan's gross national product (GDP). Each year, approximately 0.8 million Pakistanis migrate for work. According to the State Bank, Pakistan received $31 billion in remittances in 2022. The government wants to increase human resource exports to address the balance of payments crisis, inflation, and unemployment. During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reportedly requested Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman to create more jobs for Pakistanis. Sharif was informed that there are 100,000 available jobs, but they cannot be offered to Pakistanis as they lack basic skills. On Pakistan's repeated requests, Saudi authorities agreed to accept the Pakistani workforce on a condition. They sent staff to train and recruit Pakistanis under their direct supervision. Due to this condition, the workforce export to Saudi Arabia has almost halted. According to Director General NAVTTC, Dr. Khalid, 17,500 individuals have been sent to Saudi Arabia for employment under "Takamol" this year. Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes an increase in global mapower demand. Many countries of the world with aging populations, like Korea, Japan, and many European countries, require skilled workers, but despite high demand, only 639,000 Pakistanis could go overseas from January to September in 2023.
Geir Thomas Tonstol, head of the International Labor Organization in Pakistan, believes that the international job market is shrinking for Pakaistnis due to a lack of skills and language deficiencies. He observes that while demand for skilled labor is high in many countries, there is little room for unskilled labor, especially in developed countries including Korea, Japan, or Norway.
Pakistani workforce skill level: Gulf countries have been a popular destination for Pakistani workers, but since the gulf markets are shrinking, Pakistanis may explore other markets. However, the skill requirements in other international markets are even higher.Pakistan's conventional education system produces over 400,000 graduates. More than 20,000 take higher education in information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI). However, the State Bank of Pakistan reports that only 10 percent of the passouts possess employable skills. Most of the graduates have general academic knowledge, but they lack practical experience and expertise. For example, an IT or AI graduate may know theory, but they would struggle to write simple code. Many are weak in marketing, social and problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and English. According to the World Economic Forum, AI will dominate the international job market for the next ten years. IT is still in development and has potential to transform the local IT industry. But to secure a job abroad or get a decent job in the local IT market, Pakistanis need to have practical expertise and employable skills.
How to acquire skillset: According to recent estimates by the National Task Force on Human Resource and Skill Development, training 5 million youth would require an additional 45,000 institutes and 200,000 more teachers. Even if governments create new centers somehow, finding skilled instructors in advanced technologies would be a challenge. To secure international employment, Pakistanis must take the initiative to enhance their skills through online courses and gain hands-on experience through internships. The local IT industry could be facilitated to expand and absorb as many new graduates as possible. Students can also enhance their skills through online work opportunities. It may take time, but it definitely pays.
Conclusion: Many Pakistanis want to go abroad in search of better opportunities, and the government is also facilitating them. However, a lack of employable skills and language deficiency is the major obstacle. To get a decent share in the international labor market, Pakistanis must study in-demand professions and acquire practical expertise in required skills through internships or online courses. Learning international languages is also crucial to securing overseas jobs.
.jpg)