ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed Pakistani embassies across the world to step up efforts to identify overseas employment opportunities for Pakistani workers, particularly the youth, as the government seeks to expand access to global job markets through skills development and institutional reforms.
Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on productive employment for young people, the prime minister said Pakistan possessed a talented workforce and stressed that the government was taking all possible measures to equip youth with internationally competitive education, market-driven skills and access to global employment opportunities.
He also directed the complete digitisation of the Protectorate of Emigration system to improve efficiency and facilitate overseas employment.
The prime minister instructed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme to ensure skills development, language training and internationally recognised certifications for the workforce, particularly young people.
Shehbaz Sharif further directed Pakistani embassies to expedite the collection and sharing of information on overseas employment opportunities and provide relevant data to facilitate job seekers. He also instructed all relevant institutions to strengthen cooperation with foreign countries to align Pakistani certifications with international standards.
Emphasising the importance of language proficiency, the prime minister said language training and certification should be provided for countries offering employment opportunities to skilled Pakistani workers. He also sought a report on the performance of technical and vocational training institutes operating under NAVTTC and on the establishment of Country of Destination Centres.
During the meeting, officials informed the prime minister that more than 800,000 young people had registered on the Digital Youth Hub.
The meeting was also told that overseas employment opportunities were available in sectors including construction, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, transport, biotechnology, manufacturing, shipbuilding, information technology, engineering, nursing, pharmaceuticals and food processing.
Officials said training programmes were underway to prepare Pakistanis for jobs in these sectors, while Pakistani embassies would upload details of available employment opportunities and the required qualifications to the Digital Youth Hub portal.
