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Pakistan has stepped up efforts to secure more employment opportunities and student placements in Saudi Arabia, with the federal government moving to implement targeted reforms under the Saudi-Pakistan Economic Cooperation Framework (SPECF). The initiative aims to strengthen labor mobility, skills development, and academic exchange, positioning human capital cooperation as a central pillar of bilateral ties.
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development is finalizing a consolidated action plan after consultations with Saudi authorities. Federal secretaries, regulators, technical education institutions, and professional councils have been instructed to submit sector-specific plans to align Pakistan’s workforce and students with Saudi Arabia’s evolving labor and education needs.
A senior official said the focus is on “matching Pakistan’s skilled human resources with Saudi demand while ensuring fair recruitment practices and better protection for workers abroad.”
Under the proposed framework, Pakistan plans to pursue mutual recognition of qualifications for high-demand professions, alongside reforms in the overseas recruitment system. These include stricter licensing, capped recruitment fees, compliance audits, and blacklisting of violators to curb exploitation. Joint labor dispute response cells are also planned to address issues faced by Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia more effectively.
For students, the policy push includes faster visa processing, dedicated enrollment quotas, and digital single-window platforms linking Pakistani and Saudi systems. Language training, bridge programs, student exchanges, apprenticeships, and pre-departure orientation sessions are also part of the plan, aimed at improving academic integration and employability.
Authorities also intend to build alumni and mentorship networks to connect Pakistani graduates with Saudi employers, creating long-term career pathways across the Saudi-Pakistan corridor.
Saudi Arabia remains one of Pakistan’s largest destinations for overseas workers and a key source of remittances. The new policy drive comes as Riyadh expands its economy under Vision 2030, increasing demand for skilled foreign labor and international students, offering Pakistan an opportunity to deepen economic and people to people ties.
