Pakistan’s skilled labour force could play a pivotal role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, according to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Speaking at the Emerging Market Economies Conference in AlUla, Aurangzeb emphasized the growing potential for collaboration between the two countries as Saudi Arabia diversifies its economy.
“We believe there is tremendous potential for exporting skilled labour from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, particularly to help implement Vision 2030,” Aurangzeb stated. He highlighted that both countries could benefit from closer cooperation in areas like infrastructure, education, and tourism.
Saudi Vision 2030: A Shift Beyond Oil
Saudi Vision 2030 aims to reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on oil and expand sectors like health, education, infrastructure, and tourism. This initiative has sparked a rising demand for skilled workers. Pakistan hopes to meet this demand by providing trained professionals across various industries.
With over two million Pakistanis already working in Saudi Arabia, the country is a key source of remittances for Pakistan’s economy. Most of these workers are employed in blue-collar roles, but as Saudi Arabia modernizes its economy, the need for skilled labour is set to increase.
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Pakistan’s Strategy for Workforce Development
Pakistan’s Education and Professional Training Ministry is actively developing a new education policy to produce a skilled workforce tailored to Gulf job markets. The goal is to train at least one million young people annually with technical skills suited for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.
To further support this initiative, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has proposed a partnership with the Pakistani government. The partnership aims to launch training programs that will equip Pakistani youth with modern and relevant skills. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office confirmed that these efforts align with Saudi Arabia’s evolving job market needs.
A Win-Win Collaboration
This collaboration could enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to achieve its Vision 2030 goals while creating new job opportunities for Pakistan’s workforce. By focusing on skills development, Pakistan hopes to not only boost its remittance income but also strengthen bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia.
As both countries move towards closer cooperation, the future looks promising for Pakistan’s skilled labour force and Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic transformation.
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