Manpower export rises over twofold in 5 years

ISLAMABAD: Manpower export has registered a significant increase from 0.456 million in 2011 to 0.946 million in 2015 due to government efforts in the international labour markets.

According to an official of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Saudi Arabia has become the largest market for Pakistani workers in the world and more than 1.6 million Pakistanis proceeded to Saudi Arabia from 2011-2015 for employment, which accounts for 49.9 percent.

Additionally, 1.3 million people (38.2 percent) proceeded to the UAE for employment during the same period.

Oman is the third largest importer of Pakistani manpower, and 0.26 million or 7.6 percent job seekers have proceeded to Oman during 2011-2015.

The illiterate and unskilled workers comprise around half of the total Pakistani migrant workers, and only 1.76 percent workers are doing white collar jobs, the official said.

Among the skilled workers, drivers are in the highest number followed by masons carpenters and tailors.

Since 1971 till December 2015, around 8.77 million Pakistanis proceeded abroad for employment through the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE).

Out of this, about 96 percent have proceeded only to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, one percent to European countries, and three percent to other countries for employment during the same period.