Saudi Arabia largest market for Pakistani job seekers: Official

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.