In yet another degrading development for the financially bankrupt Pakistan, several Gulf countries have expressed concerns regarding Pakistani expats and the Pakistani labour force which might have serious ramifications for many citizens of the country. The information was disclosed at a Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis meeting.
As per reports, Secretary Dr Arshad for Overseas Pakistanis informed the group that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have raised reservations over many issues pertaining to Pakistanis living abroad.
The revelation comes months after the government told the same council in September 2023 that the majority of Pakistanis departing the nation are beggars. The official had stated that beggars from Pakistan go under the pretence of ziarat, or pilgrimages, to Iraq and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Most tourists with Umrah permits enter Saudi Arabia and engage in begging afterwards. 90% of the beggars who were arrested, per the secretary, were Pakistanis.
Notably, the recent statement is related to a far more problematic issue as it exposes the fairly “inappropriate” conduct of Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates, including recording videos in front of females in Dubai. Secretary Dr Arshad informed the committee on 30th July that between 200,000 and 300,000 Pakistanis return from their travels overseas, out of an annual total of 0.6 to 0.8 million. 96% of all travellers go to countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to their disclosure.
‘50% of crimes in the UAE are committed by Pakistanis’
The committee was briefed by the officials regarding the issues other countries have with Pakistan. They remarked that the country has a quota of 1.6 million people, but it has been exceeded to 1.8 million by the UAE. They mentioned that Pakistanis spend a year in Malaysia and then get arrested for extending their stay. According to the officials, there have also been slips in Iraq, though the precise number is unknown.
Senator Nasir Abbas stated that Bangladeshis are getting more jobs than Pakistanis. He dubbed Pakistanis as “helpless” in Iraq since they are used as cheap labour. He unveiled that they are treated like “prisoners” in Iraq. The senator added that labour is needed for the ongoing development projects in Iraq. The foreign officials responded by stating that there are multiple grievances from Pakistanis living in Iraq.
The officials informed the committee members that 0.4 million Pakistanis visit Saudi Arabia annually, out of the 2 million who now live there. The officials confirmed that Pakistanis had been asked not to send “beggars and sick people” by the KSA authorities. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is now modern, they highlighted, emphasizing development and technology. The officials from the overseas ministry asserted that Pakistanis leaving the country are “unskilled” and that their people aren’t receiving the same training. “People from other nations are replacing ours,” they reported.
They additionally stressed how important it is to address Pakistanis’ attitudes toward their jobs, work ethics and their involvement in criminal activities. They underlined that 50% of all crimes committed in the UAE are committed by Pakistanis. According to the officials, countries are looking elsewhere and are “suspicious” of Pakistanis. Giving more information, they pointed out that 96% of the 600,000–800,000 individuals who travel overseas do so to the Middle East. “Sensible people search for opportunities and go abroad.”
Pakistani workforce’s future
The ministry voiced fears for the future of Pakistani workers hoping to find employment in the UAE by noting that Gulf governments are now turning to African labourers because their labour is even less expensive than that of Pakistani expatriates. Furthermore, they underscored other work-related ethical issues that Pakistanis face, as conveyed by the GCC nations. Kuwait has lodged complaints about Pakistani nurses’ reluctance to carry out specific job-related tasks, placing the responsibility for routine tasks like helping a patient sit up on ward boys. The nurses not only wish to leave the country after just six months but also refuse to learn the language.
According to representatives of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, Qatar has shown dissatisfaction with Pakistani labourers’ refusal to wear safety helmets. On the other hand, KSA has insisted that it will only hire individuals who have successfully passed the examination administered by their respective authority, the National Center for Human Resources Development (Takamul).
The authorities, in response to questions on the steps the government is taking to solve the urgent issues, announced that the ministry is collecting information on new and open positions across international borders. They added that Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, has formed a cabinet committee to handle immigration-related issues. They claimed, “We want people to think that these (Pakistani) people are skilled.”
