Islamabad, Jawad Sohrab Malik, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (SAPM on OP&HRD), embarked on his first official visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit aims to strengthen collaboration and explore employment opportunities for the Pakistani workforce, focusing on the Kingdom’s major mega-development projects.

According to Press Information Department, the visit will center on various groundbreaking projects initiated by Saudi Arabia, such as the Red Sea Project, Development Plan of Extension of the Holy City of Makkah, Jabal Omar, and others. These projects are expected to open a wide range of employment opportunities, especially in fields like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, health and safety, and renewable energy. The SAPM’s discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Labor, Vice Minister of Labor, and top Saudi companies will emphasize the capabilities of the Pakistani skilled and unskilled labor force and advocate for more opportunities across diverse sectors including construction, hospitality, services, nursing, and care.

Malik plans to highlight the competitive advantages of the Pakistani workforce and propose a special quota for Pakistani skilled and semi-skilled workers in the NEOM Project and other upcoming Saudi initiatives. Additionally, the SAPM will propose the establishment of a state-of-the-art Skill University in Pakistan by Saudi Arabia, aiming to align the two nations in their economic transformation efforts. The visit will also focus on collaborative training of Pakistani workers to meet Saudi labor market demands and enhance their skill sets.

The SAPM’s visit is a strategic move to align Pakistan’s workforce with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation program and to bolster the partnership for mutual benefit. It also aims to enhance remittances to Pakistan, contributing to the nation’s economic stability and supporting families reliant on these financial inflows. Malik expressed optimism about the positive impact of this visit on bilateral relations and the prosperity of both countries.