The Pakistan government has announced that soft skills certification will become mandatory for citizens seeking employment in European and Gulf countries, effective January 2026.
The Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment confirmed the decision, noting that the new requirement aims to improve workforce readiness and align Pakistani jobseekers with international labour standards.
Under the policy, applicants travelling to Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, as well as selected European destinations, must obtain the certification before registering with the Protectorate of Immigration.
The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment clarified that the directive applies to jobseekers using licensed employment promoters and those arranging overseas employment independently.
Authorities have instructed applicants to obtain certification only through the official PakSoftSkills OIC mobile application or via the designated online portal. Certificates obtained from unapproved platforms will not be accepted.
The announcement comes as unemployment pressures continue to mount nationwide. According to the 2024–25 Labour Force Survey released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the national unemployment rate rose to 7.1 per cent, up 0.8 percentage points.
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The survey estimates that more than eight million people are currently unemployed, out of a population of around 240 million. Pakistan’s labour force has expanded to 77.2 million, while 53.8 per cent of the population remains unemployed or economically inactive.
The services sector remains the largest employer, providing jobs to approximately 31.8 million people, according to the survey. Officials believe the soft skills certification requirement will help Pakistani workers compete more effectively in international labour markets and improve their employment prospects abroad.
