Karachi – The government of Pakistan has unveiled a bold target to place 800,000 Pakistani workers abroad this year, aiming to expand employment opportunities, increase remittances, and strengthen the country’s economic stability.
Speaking at an event with the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, highlighted that the demand for skilled and semi-skilled Pakistani labour in Gulf countries, South Korea, Japan, and other international markets remains robust. He emphasised that the government is taking proactive steps to meet this demand through training programmes and reforms in manpower export processes.
As part of these initiatives, the government has reduced the minimum age for female workers seeking overseas employment from 35 to 25 years, opening new opportunities for women to participate in the global workforce. Additionally, training programmes focusing on soft skills, technical expertise, and language proficiency are being offered in collaboration with countries like Korea and Japan to ensure Pakistani workers are competitive and prepared for international employment standards.
Minister Salik also highlighted the economic significance of these overseas jobs, noting that a single Pakistani worker employed in Korea, for example, can remit $1,800 per month, contributing significantly to both family incomes and the country’s foreign exchange reserves. He stressed that expanding overseas employment is a key strategy to strengthen remittances and support the national economy.
To ensure smoother placement and protection of workers, the government is addressing longstanding challenges faced by migrant labour, including regulatory bottlenecks and coordination with international employers. Reforms are also underway at the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) to improve governance, digitise services, and enhance benefits for both employees and pensioners. These reforms have reportedly increased the EOBI fund from Rs500 billion to Rs650 billion in the last 18 months.
Analysts say the move could help reduce domestic unemployment pressures while boosting the flow of remittances that sustain Pakistan’s economic stability. In 2025, approximately 740,000 workers went abroad, indicating steady growth in manpower exports, which the government now aims to accelerate further.
With this ambitious push for overseas employment, Pakistan is not only seeking to create jobs but also positioning its workforce as a key contributor to economic resilience and international engagement. The success of this initiative will be closely watched by workers, families, and policymakers alike.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.