ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has highlighted Pakistan’s potential to supply skilled labour to Saudi Arabia in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development agenda.
Speaking at the Emerging Market Economies Conference in AlUla, Aurangzeb emphasized Pakistan’s role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation.
“We see significant potential in labour exports from Pakistan, particularly in skilled workers, to meet Saudi Arabia’s requirements for Vision 2030,” he stated. “There are numerous opportunities for both nations to collaborate.”
Vision 2030 seeks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy beyond oil, expanding key sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, tourism, and recreation. The initiative has driven a growing demand for skilled professionals, which Pakistan aims to fulfill.
Currently, over two million Pakistanis work in Saudi Arabia, making it a vital source of remittances for Islamabad. While many are employed in blue-collar roles, the need for skilled labour is expected to increase as the Kingdom modernizes its workforce.
To address this demand, Pakistan’s Education and Professional Training Ministry is developing a policy to train at least one million youth annually in technical skills tailored for employment in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has proposed a collaboration with the Pakistani government to launch specialized training programs, equipping Pakistani workers with “modern and relevant skills” suited to Saudi Arabia’s evolving job market, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office.
