Curbing unemployment: New push to find overseas jobs for Pakistan’s jobless

Administration to evolve policy on human resource development.

ISLAMABAD:


In a bid to curb unemployment in the country, the government has decided to give fillip to efforts for export of human resources to Arab states and European countries.


While the administration is busy evolving a policy on human resources, foreign missions are being engaged in the process, whereas the ministry of foreign affairs has been asked to submit its response regarding the issue, an official told The Express Tribune.

Unemployment isn’t just claiming innocent lives, but it is also forcing people to resort to desperate measures (often petty crime) to feed their families.

While the government remains concerned about the growing rate of unemployment in the country, overseas employment agents complain that Pakistani embassies abroad are very “non-cooperative” in the matter.


The human resource development (HRD) ministry will approach countries such as Australia and Canada, the official said, adding that delegations from the ministry have already visited Turkey, Kuwait and China to broaden the employment base.

The HRD ministry has been directed to devise a policy taking all stakeholders into confidence. “The stakeholders include overseas employment agents, airlines, Foreign Office and the ministry itself,” the official said, adding that extensive deliberations would also be carried out after holding conferences on the subject.

The ministry of foreign affairs and Pakistani ambassadors always try their best to explore job opportunities and facilitate overseas employment promoters, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said, adding however, that there are times when educated individuals are offered very low paying jobs, but Pakistani embassies are busy exploring new avenues for the youth.

Federal minister for HRD Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain is taking a keen interest in the promotion of exporting manpower and in emerging international markets, HRD Joint Secretary Amna Imran Khan said while talking to The Express Tribune.

A series of meetings have been planned with various stakeholders to explore new ways and means to enhance job opportunities abroad for potential emigrants, Khan said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2011.
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