Saudi Arabia has assured Pakistan that visas for Pakistani workers will be issued within 24 hours, with the Saudi ambassador pledging full facilitation in the process.
Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Raji bin Tami Al-Baqami gave the assurance during a meeting with Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain in Islamabad. He said Riyadh would extend all possible cooperation in the issuance of visas to Pakistani workers and would continue to help resolve the problems of laborers living in the kingdom.
The two sides agreed to set up a joint working group to address the issues promptly, strengthen institutional cooperation and promote human resource development. The meeting also covered Pakistan-Saudi relations and the creation of new employment opportunities for Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia.
Salik Hussain urged the Saudi side to expand job openings for skilled Pakistani workers. He said Pakistani manpower should be given advance training to meet the modern requirements of the Saudi labor market, and called for timely sharing of information on workforce demand and the skills required in the kingdom.
The ambassador praised the courage and sacrifice of the Pakistani people, citing a 2009 incident in which a Pakistani national risked his life to save 14 Saudi citizens. The minister reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia and said the two countries would continue cooperating for the mutual benefit of their people.
