Senate Standing Committee meeting chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, officials from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis highlighted increasing concerns from Gulf countries regarding Pakistani labourers.
The committee learned that 50% of crimes committed in the UAE involve Pakistani citizens, which has prompted these nations to consider African countries as alternative sources of labour.
The briefing indicated a significant increase in complaints regarding the behaviour of Pakistani workers in the Gulf, highlighting a shift in preference towards African labour due to lower costs and fewer incidents of misconduct. This trend raises concerns, especially since 96% of Pakistani overseas workers are based in the Middle East.
Additionally, officials shed light on other challenges Pakistani workers face abroad. In Malaysia, numerous workers overstay their one-year contracts, often leading to extended stays and frequent incarcerations. The whereabouts of missing Pakistani workers in Iraq remain unknown.
On a positive note, Japan has expressed interest in Pakistani expertise, inviting an entire class of electrical engineering students from NUST. However, the image of Pakistan suffers as many out of the 600,000 to 800,000 Pakistanis who legally cross borders for work are still caught trying to migrate by boat.
In Dubai, specific issues have emerged where Pakistani workers have engaged in inappropriate behaviours, such as filming women and participating in politically sensitive discussions in public spaces. Dubai officials have stressed the need for better pre-departure training to curb these behaviours. Similarly, in Kuwait, there are reports of Pakistani nurses refusing tasks outside their job descriptions and not learning the local language, which frustrates employers. One nurse even requested a transfer to Europe after only six months.
Additionally, Qatar has raised safety concerns over Pakistani labourers’ refusal to wear helmets. This accumulation of issues has led Gulf countries to increasingly view African labourers as a preferable alternative due to their compliance and cost-effectiveness.
