Plan to re-employ expats under way

The government has started the implementation of the action plan for re-employment of overseas Pakistani workers, who had been expelled by their foreign employees in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The ousted skilled workers would be provided technical and financial assistance under the Kamyab Jawan and Ehsaas programmes, while the technical and vocational institutions of the country would also be engaged in this regard, an overseas ministry official told APP.

According to the official, the ministry had recently launched a portal to document such workers.

“Around 40,000 expelled workers have registered themselves with the portal, indicating that the initiative received an overwhelming response from the skilled overseas workers,” he said.

Moreover, the government’s point man on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development said that it was imperative to create job opportunities for the skilled workers, returning to the country after losing jobs in their host countries.

In a statement, Zulifkar Bukhari said efforts were afoot to offer financial assistance to such workers under the Ehsaas Programme. “We realise the problems of the returning workers during such trying times,” Bukhari said.

The PM’s aide said that special initiatives were being taken to facilitate Pakistani labourers and the jobless, following the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“The safe repatriation and provision of livelihood to the Pakistani manpower is among the priorities of the government,” he said, hinting at reintegration of such workers into the society. APP