Pakistan is strategically positioning itself as a key supplier of skilled labor to Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative. Speaking at the Emerging Market Economies Conference in AlUla, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasized the potential for Pakistani professionals to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s transformation, particularly in sectors beyond traditional labor exports.
As Saudi Arabia diversifies its economy, reducing dependence on oil and expanding industries such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and tourism, the demand for skilled workers is increasing. Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s capability to meet this growing demand, stressing the numerous opportunities for collaboration between both nations.
Vision 2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to modernize Saudi Arabia through large-scale infrastructure development, private sector expansion, and job creation in emerging industries. While over two million Pakistanis are currently employed in Saudi Arabia—primarily in blue-collar jobs—there is now a rising demand for professionals such as engineers, IT specialists, healthcare workers, and technicians as the Kingdom transitions to a knowledge-based economy.
To capitalize on this opportunity, Pakistan’s Education and Professional Training Ministry is implementing policies to train at least one million young workers annually, equipping them with technical skills tailored for employment in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia. These training programs focus on modern industry requirements to align with the evolving Saudi job market.
Pakistan has also secured support from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), which has proposed a partnership to enhance workforce readiness. As per Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office, this initiative will provide specialized vocational and technical training to ensure Pakistani workers meet Saudi employment standards.
With increasing economic cooperation between both nations, skilled labor exports could provide a much-needed boost to Pakistan’s economy by enhancing remittance inflows. At the same time, Saudi Arabia would benefit from a well-trained workforce to support its development goals. This shift also marks Pakistan’s broader strategy to diversify its labor exports, moving toward higher-value employment opportunities in the global market.
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