A media report on Wednesday stated that Gulf countries are increasingly avoiding hiring workers from Pakistan and are instead recruiting from countries like Bangladesh. This shift is due to the "deplorable standards" of the Pakistani workforce and the rising crime rate among the UAE labour force, which is reportedly attributed to Pakistanis.

The issue was highlighted by Dr Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis, during a Senate Standing Committee meeting on Overseas Pakistanis. Following criticism from committee members about the government's failure to capitalise on the potential of the Pakistani diaspora, Dr Arshad Mahmood, provided a bleak account of the state of Pakistan's labour force in Gulf countries.

Government data revealed that the Pakistani diaspora comprises 10.7 million individuals, primarily working in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, the UK, and Canada.

The meeting was informed that the “deplorable standard of Pakistani workforce,” mainly in the Gulf region, has led to the shifting of preferences by Gulf employers to hire workforce from other regional countries, such as Bangladesh, instead of Pakistan,” the Dawn newspaper reported.

In the UAE, Pakistanis are reportedly involved in 50 per cent of crimes, according to a communication from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Concerns have also been raised about "inappropriate" behaviour, such as making videos in front of women in Dubai.

Kuwait has expressed specific issues with Pakistani nurses who allegedly refuse to perform certain job-related duties, shifting the burden to ward boys for routine tasks. These nurses are also reported to avoid learning the local language and seek to move to Europe after a short stay in Kuwait.

In Qatar, officials from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis reported that Pakistani labourers have been found refusing to wear safety helmets while working.

In September 2023, officials reported that Pakistani beggars travel to countries like Iraq and Saudi Arabia under the pretext of 'Ziarat' (pilgrimage) and subsequently engage in begging. According to official data, Pakistani nationals account for 90 percent of beggars arrested in these countries.

Saudi Arabian authorities have requested that Pakistan refrain from sending "beggars and sick people" to the kingdom. Approximately two million Pakistanis currently reside in Saudi Arabia, with 400,000 migrating there each year.

In Malaysia, Pakistani visitors frequently overstay their permitted duration and end up in prison as a result.

Senator Nasir Abbas raised concerns about Pakistanis living illegally in Iraq to earn a livelihood and questioned whether the ministry can assist them, as they are often subjected to poor treatment.

However, the issue extends beyond the Gulf region.

Senator Khanzada noted that numerous Pakistanis are living illegally in Italy, where they claim not to be Pakistani, while the Pakistani embassy identifies them as citizens, according to the report.

To counter this adverse situation regarding the future of the Pakistani labour force in GCC countries, the officials said that the ministry is compiling data regarding job availability and opportunities in various countries.

A cabinet committee has been set up under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding matters related to immigration, they said.

Image source: X