Qatar to import 30,000 workers from Pakistan

[pkpatriotic]

ISLAMABAD: Qatar will hire 30,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers from Pakistan this year. In this regard, both sides signed an additional protocol pertaining to the existing labour agreement. It was signed by Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah and visiting Qatari Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Dr Sultan bin Hasan Al-Dhabit Al-Dousari. The agreement will provide an opportunity for more people to be accommodated in Qatar and also in rehabilitating those Pakistanis, whose contracts expired subsequently. Later, talking to the media, Khurshid Shah said the Qatari government would be investing over $2 million in Pakistan.

 

[solid snake]

That's a lot of workers, good for both countries as we'll be getting remittances from Qatar.

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

just so you know solid snake, Qatar airways has now started service from dulles airport to doha and karachi. the airline is filled with indians from qatar, 30,000 pakistani workers would balance the indian influence in the region!

 

[Neo]

Wtf? Just few years ago they some 12.000 Pakistani illegals were deported, now they're short of staff?

With little effort these illegals could have been given proper dicuments and visa, a cheaper solution than detention and deportation (sometimes escorted)which is paid by the state.

 

[Neo]

Export of labour to Qatar ​

EDITORIAL (May 06 2008): The Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower, Khurshid Ahmed Shah, and his counterpart from Qatar currently on a visit to Pakistan, signed an additional protocol to the 1987 agreement between the two countries to regulate export of manpower to Qatar.

The additional protocol envisages the establishment of a joint committee which will undertake an annual review to facilitate Pakistani workers, increase the export of more people, skilled and unskilled, and rehabilitate those Pakistanis whose contracts have expired as well as to assist them to get their full benefits in terms of social security, wages and other emoluments.

Remittance income is a major component of our foreign exchange reserves and its contribution to provide balance of payments support is considerable. In 2006-07 the July-April figure for remittances was a hefty 4.4 billion dollars. Interestingly, the largest remittances are sent from the United States, accounting for 26.44 percent of Pakistan's total remittance income, followed by Saudi Arabia with a percentage share of 18.61 percent and United Arab Emirates is in third place accounting for 11.15 percent. Qatar in contrast accounted for 136.79 million dollars and its percentage share was 0.37 percent.

While comparatively speaking, Qatar's share is considerably less than that of other countries yet there is potential to improve in this regard. Hence there is need for the government to provide all-out assistance to the Qatar government to use Pakistani labour. That this new agreement is a reflection of that initiative must, therefore, be lauded. However while such agreements are demand driven and the actual supply of labour will be a function of what Qatar demands, yet from our end we can do a lot to ensure that we export more skilled labour relative to unskilled so that we can expand our remittance income from Qatar.

Pakistan remains largely an exporter of unskilled labour and, therefore, there is an urgent need for the government to ensure that vocational institutes that encourage the development of skills are set up with the objective of increasing our remittance income. In this context it is relevant to note that the government is planning to set up vocational institutes throughout the country in an effort to meet the demand for skilled labour internationally.

Two elements that may act as a deterrent need to be mentioned in this context: first and foremost, there is a need to carefully look at skills required by any country and the skills of the applicant. In many instances the applicant claims a skill set that he/she does not possess. This has led to many a foreign country reluctant to accept skilled labour from Pakistan. There is therefore a need for the government to make vigorous checks on the skills of each applicant.

And, second, the government has not really facilitated our overseas workers in spite of the fact that they contribute significantly to the country's foreign exchange reserves. In the Philippine, for example, the overseas Filipino workers are given special treatment at all airports and sea ports. It is imperative for the government of Pakistan to take similar measures in an effort to ensure that the overseas workers feel that they are valuable assets to this country.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Add to that move:

Govt plans to train 100,000 skilled workers in a year​

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: To meet the emerging demand of skilled workers within the country and abroad, the government is planning to train 100,000 unemployed youth belonging to lower income group of the society in employment skills.

Under this project, the government envisages to train 37592 persons for light industry and services sector through its 55 institutes during one-year period.

The project will commence from June this year and will complete by May 31, 2009, officials in the Planning Commission told Daily Times on Wednesday.

Main aim of the project was the productive adjustment of youth, particularly from less privileged class in the socio economic system and turning them to be useful member of the society.

The programme would be implemented with the collaboration of National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) and Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Punjab.

Under this programme, the courses mason, shuttering, carpenter, steel fixer, domestic electrician, diesel engine mechanic, building painter, welder, plumber, house carpenter, automobile mechanic, turner etc consist of three months duration would be offered in 55 institutions.

He said skill training would help in expanding the pool of literate skilled labour and emphasised on diversification so as to transform the system from supply oriented to demand-driven.

During the training, the youth would be taught special courses of skill development to cater the demand of specific sectors.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan