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Saudi Arabia largest market for Pakistani job seekers: Official

Published: August 15, 2012

In 2011, 2,22,247 Pakistani worker registered for jobs in Saudi Arabia. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia had become the largest market for Pakistani workers in the world and amongst other Gulf States such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Kuwait, a government official said on Wednesday.  

According to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment official, Saudi Arabia, being a Muslim state was an attractive place to work for millions of Pakistani job seekers seeking employment abroad.

The number of Pakistani emigrants in Saudi Arabia has increased from 0.14 million in 2008 to 0.22 million in 2011.

“Presently Pakistan is exporting skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour,” the official said.

Responding to a question, he said the number of Pakistani workers registered for overseas employment through the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment during 2011 for Saudi Arabia was 222,247.

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Reader Comments (25)

  • yellow
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:43PM

    more like unskilled labor only..

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  • hassan akbar
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:46PM

    Do u really think because its a muslim country or because of cheap labour? why are there ten times more indians?

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  • Rajendra Kalkhande
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:55PM

    Compare 0.22 million Pakistanis vs 2.5 million Indians working in Saudi (http://ksaindians.blogspot.com/). Not only Muslims, large number of Hindus and Christian Indians also work there. I am bit doubtful about the Pakistani figures given here. Pakistanis working in Saudi are much more (at least a million)

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  • Hedgefunder
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:42PM

    How many of the total are actually employed in Management positions or any form of skilled positions ?
    That figure would be an reality check on Pakistan’s migrants !

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  • Pakistani Agnostic (Riyadh)
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:38PM

    Thousands of them work as doctors, accountants, engineers and teachers. You only have to come to Riyadh to see this

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  • Vikas
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:45PM

    Need to oust Pakistanis from Saudi. We need to capture the job market over there.Recommend

  • unbeliever
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:15PM

    @Pakistani Agnostic (Riyadh):
    well, how’s your life buddy as an agnostic in SA.

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  • Mujtaba
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:17PM

    hahaha look at then posts of Indians here! Wow how petty can a group of people get!?! Amusing as always!

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  • Mujtaba
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:18PM

    the Indians*

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  • Cobra Commander
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:23PM

    @Hedgefunder:
    Why don’t you find out and share it with us.

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  • Giri
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:24PM

    I heard Pakistanis claim to be Indian citizens after reaching KSA.

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  • A-rubs are bad
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:33PM

    I thought we did not like arabs………….lets call all expats back!

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  • londoner john
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:57PM

    This is good nws for west. we dont want youll there for creating problems in our society.

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  • Hedgefunder
    Aug 16, 2012 - 12:00AM

    @Cobra Commander:
    Thw data is coming from Pak, and we all know how realiable that can be at times ! But surely they must also have the breakdown too !
    Why not disclose it ?

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  • SS
    Aug 16, 2012 - 2:17AM

    Saudi Arabia offers a modern form of slavery. Imagine not being able to leave the city without taking “permission” from your maasa (kafeel).

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  • Pakistani Agnostic (Riyadh)
    Aug 16, 2012 - 3:59AM

    @Giri:
    Why would we do that? Indians are as badly treated as Bengalis. (Talking about low skilled people here)
    @SS:
    Low skilled yes. But for people in higher positions, NO
    @unbeliever:
    Bad.

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  • Hassan Nisar
    Aug 16, 2012 - 4:18AM

    @A-rubs are bad:
    Oye……..do not take my word too seriously.
    I only take issue with their language and culture , not the money.

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  • Aug 16, 2012 - 4:47AM

    How can I get a job in Saudi Arabia?

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  • Z.K.
    Aug 16, 2012 - 8:05AM

    Figure is absolutely wrong. It is around 1.2 million.

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  • Ch. Allah Daad
    Aug 16, 2012 - 8:14AM

    @ SS, Compare slavery in Saudia with slavery in Pakistan. Labourers working at Bhatta, at construction sites, in farms and at many other places are worst than slavery of Saudis..

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  • Wiki
    Aug 16, 2012 - 4:33PM

    I am here searching a job(telecom engineer) for more than 2 years in pakistan، but i didnt find any. Now i took visa at a cost 0.6 million rupees for saudi arabia..Recommend

  • Zaheer Waheed
    Aug 16, 2012 - 4:53PM

    I am in KSA and why i am here is a long story… i never wanted to leave my parents and my homeland however

    The law and order situation
    The political unrest
    The economic disorder
    The cost of meeting my both ends meets
    And the mental stress to family and me of reaching my destination safe and sound

    made me leave my beloved homeland and seek a better living for my family

    and it is the story of many…

    i used to be the Lion even if caged in zoo (my homeland)…. but… once u leave ur homeland… even if u are a loin u are no longer master of ur own domain.

    i miss my country… i miss my family and friends… i wish and pray that things turn smooth for Pak-Land and i fly back with the first avilable fligth. Aameeen

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  • Sinister
    Aug 16, 2012 - 6:26PM

    @Rajendra Kalkhande:
    How come you compare 1.2 billion with 0.2 billion??? In the world every 5th or 6th is Indian or Chinese….Looking at Pakistan population it is the largest

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  • Siddiqui
    Aug 16, 2012 - 11:15PM

    I’ve worked in Saudi. Figure quoted in the article is incorrect. The number of Pakistanis in KSA is around 1.2 to 1.5 million in KSA. Like any other place, KSA has its good and bad points… generally speaking, if you do a good honest job and follow the law, life is ok there. Socially restricted though, especially if you prefer a liberal lifestyle. Expat Compound life… especially in those compounds designed for westerners, is however as liberal as you can want it to be. Certain compounds do not even allow abaya inside to ensure they maintain a western environment for their clients… but these are of course very few and elite ones.

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  • khalsa
    Aug 17, 2012 - 8:15PM

    for rich saudi is just like europe. good quality whiskey always at doorstep but yes one needs to pay much much more. personal experience

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