300 stranded workers reach Rawalpindi from Saudi Arabia

RAWALPINDI: As many as 300 stranded Pakistani workers who were sacked by some construction companies in Saudi Arabia who were suffering from financial problems and distress reached here at Benazir International Airport on Friday from Riyadh and Dammam.The labourers' coming back from Saudi Arabia is a part of an ongoing process of workers returning home after not receiving their dues.

According to reports, the stranded Pakistan workers have reached home here through a private flight NL 714 and Saudi Airline flight 724. After completion of three hours legal proceeding these workers were allowed to leave from their homes. Relatives of these Pakistanis were present at airport in large number. They warmly welcomed them.

Workers told media that after the completion of period of the Bin Ladin contract and closure of some companies due to financial deficit hundreds of Pakistanis of these companies are leading vulnerable life in containers and camps established there for the last one year.

The Government of Saudi Arabia had cancelled the contract of Bin Laden Construction Company after the stampede of Haj due to which dues of hundreds of Pakistanis working in this construction company have been blocked, they added and maintained that some companies have terminated Pakistanis staff and stopped their payments while showing financial deficit. They further said that some employers of the companies have also confiscated the passports  and even dues of their employees.

It is worth mentioning here that this all began about eight months ago when one after the other groups such as the Saad Trading and Contracting Company, the Saudi Oger Limited and the Bin Laden Group declared bankruptcy after reportedly facing a financial crunch .

For about 12, 000 Pakistanis working in different capacities for the companies operating from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Taif, the domino effect was sudden and unexpected. The labourers were living under lamentable conditions in 19 camps set up by the companies in the four cities.