Govt taps EU demand for skilled labour

The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was informed on Thursday that Europe was projected to require 450 million skilled workers over the coming years, and Pakistan is moving to position its workforce to meet the demand.

Similarly, a labour agreement has already been signed between Italy and Pakistan, while a similar deal with Belarus is expected soon.

During the session, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Dr Arshad Mahmood, told the committee that Belarus required approximately 150,000 skilled workers.

Efforts are being made to send as many Pakistani workers there as possible, he added.

Dr Mahmood further stated that Europe demands skilled labour, and Pakistan has initiated six-month specialised training programmes at five universities, including NUST, aimed at ensuring confirmed employment opportunities abroad upon completion.

He revealed that Italy's interior minister visited Pakistan a day earlier and formally signed a bilateral agreement to recruit skilled labour from Pakistan.

CEO Sehat Sahulat Programme Muhammad Arshad informed the committee that all Pakistani citizens were entitled to free medical treatment under the programme.

For further details, he added, citizens can send their CNIC number to 8500 to access information about affiliated hospitals and other services.

Separately, the director general of the Foreign Office briefed the committee that Pakistan has signed prisoner exchange agreements with eight countries, under which 185 convicted individuals have been repatriated.