By Amir Muhammad Khan
According to statistics and a government announcement, in April overseas Pakistanis sent $3.25 billion to Pakistan, while in early May the IMF disbursed $1.3 billion to Pakistan as part of instalments of loans already agreed with the Fund. The IMF places emphasis on setting prices for electricity, petrol and other essentials as a condition for lending, as a result of which people have the right to raise their voices against the government. If inflation increases due to petrol, that is a separate matter. On the other hand, the unrestrained opposition and fake social media accounts all begin their own commentary. Since Pakistanis are suffering from anxiety and facing difficulties, there is a sense of chaos. IMF loans come with strict conditions that place additional strain on the public. Yet the elites in our country remain unaffected.
Compared with IMF assistance, the foreign exchange sent by Pakistanis abroad cannot really be described as aid. They send it out of affection for their homeland, transferring their hard-earned income to support their families. There are no conditions attached. They simply want peace, order and development in the country. But when their families are considered unsafe due to a lack of peace and order, their small and large properties, purchased through lawful earnings, are sometimes seized. Government statements on their facilitation remain largely rhetorical. In practice, those affected by such issues often find themselves trapped in delays; when overseas Pakistanis approach Pakistani missions abroad, they are made to wait, referred to courts to recover their properties, and then there is the judicial system—“mashallah”.
Pakistan has long been regarded as an important supplier of manpower. Particularly in the Gulf countries, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, Pakistani workers have played a prominent role in construction, transport, engineering, health, IT and service sectors for decades. In the coming years, demand for Pakistani manpower in the Gulf is expected to increase further, driven by a range of economic, social and developmental factors. Gulf economies are expanding rapidly, and millions of workers are required for major infrastructure projects, tourism, transport and industrial development. Pakistan, with its young population, sees millions of young people entering the labor market every year, which is why Gulf states consider Pakistani workers reliable, hardworking and relatively low-cost.
Pakistani laborers, drivers, electricians, plumbers, welders, mechanics, energy sector workers, doctors and IT professionals have already demonstrated their skills in Gulf markets. In recent regional developments involving Iran, the United States and Israel, the role of our neighboring adversary has been viewed here as deeply troubling. Can the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis play a more proactive role in meeting the expected surge in manpower demand, particularly in the Gulf, by treating this as an urgent priority? At present, it is often seen as merely “shrugging off” responsibility through rhetoric.
Pakistani manpower has the full potential to meet this demand, but for that the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis must share proper data on skilled workers with officials in embassies and consulates. Without such coordination, what exactly can those officers achieve in the labour market? Similarly, attention is needed in Qatar, where infrastructure, tourism, hospitality and service sectors are expanding and where opportunities for Pakistani workers exist.
In the IT sector across the Gulf, Indian manpower is currently dominant, yet Pakistani IT students and professionals are no less capable. The IT sector remains one of the most important fields across Gulf economies. In healthcare as well, Pakistan lags behind despite significant potential, while India again maintains a strong presence. There are also many prominent Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia who have formed business forums and occupy influential positions at major events. Could they not be encouraged to form investor groups to establish clinics or hospitals, which are both commercially viable and socially valuable enterprises?
With the expansion of hospitals and the wider medical sector in Gulf countries, demand for Pakistani doctors, nurses and paramedical staff continues to rise. Pakistani workers are widely recognized for their honesty and hard work. Gulf employers often regard them as dependable workers willing to perform effectively at relatively lower salaries, which reduces operational costs. Religious and cultural proximity also allows easier social integration. Pakistani youth are increasingly skilled in IT, computing and engineering, giving them better prospects in competitive job markets.
It is also argued that sections of the political elite have failed to invest in major domestic projects, with attention instead directed elsewhere. As a result, remittances from overseas Pakistanis increasingly appear to be the backbone of the national economy. These remittances are a clear expression of attachment to the homeland, while official facilitation schemes remain largely on paper. When the children of overseas Pakistanis return to the country, they are not treated as privileged returnees; instead, they are often labelled foreign students and charged high fees. Meanwhile, Pakistani workers continue to project a positive image of the country across the world through their labor, skill and discipline, and for that contribution they remain widely respected.
(The writer is a veteran journalist having 45 years of experience across print and broadcast media in Pakistan and the United States, can reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
