Pakistan’s recent economic crisis has hurt almost all sections of society. Power outages, gas shortages, and an overall unstable environment have compelled most people to explore different countries to find better job opportunities. But in their quest for a better life, most people often fall into traps skilfully laid down by profiteers who exploit vulnerable people and extort large sums of money from them against an empty promise of sending them abroad. Over the last two years, nerve-racking stories of Pakistanis losing their lives at sea after the boats carrying them to foreign lands capsized have surfaced, highlighting an important issue: Pakistan does not have enough opportunities for its workforce. The phenomenon of the local population moving out to find better opportunities abroad is not new. Most countries actively search for a workforce from foreign countries to meet their labour demands. What’s missing in Pakistan is a link between those countries and the skilled workforce looking for a good opportunity. The Pakistan government has finally taken more steps to fill the gap, acting as an essential bridge between professionals and foreign companies/governments looking for skilled labour.
At least 600 Pakistani professionals have set out on a journey under the Pakistan government’s strategic employment agreements with global partners to kick start their careers abroad. This initiative is led by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development which is coordinating with partners in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and multiple European countries to find job opportunities for professionals here. This step will go a long way in helping Pakistanis stay away from profiteers and human trafficking gangs. Dozens of Pakistanis die every year while trying to cross oceans through illegal means. These people also include skilled workers who fail to get a good job in the local market. Given these circumstances, it is indeed commendable that the government has decided to facilitate people who want to look for opportunities abroad.
International experience can also help Pakistan towards its economic growth. The government can also invite the professionals back for short-term training programmes conducted for the existing workforce here so that they can upgrade their skills easily. Many countries have emigration policies that allow them to use their nationals as their diplomats to help fix the image of the country on a global stage. Pakistanis have many talented individuals who have performed exceptionally well in highly competitive markets abroad. Such programmes will help more individuals to improve their skills and receive the critical training required to get ahead in their careers. Government-backed initiatives will also provide a safety cushion to these workers who will have someone to turn to in case of layoffs or other such untoward incidents. Investing in its workforce is likely to reap innumerable benefits for the country in the long run.