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Gulf doesn’t want Pakistani labourers. UAE, Saudi complain of beggars, criminals coming in

Pakistani men have been making inappropriate videos in front of women in Dubai, Pakistani nurses have refused to work in Kuwait and labourers have refused to wear helmets in Qatar.

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New Delhi: Pakistan has been issued warnings about the rising number of expatriates by several Gulf countries. Now, the country has been asked to give its citizens lessons in ‘proper behaviour’. UAE and Saudi Arabia don’t want the Pakistani government to send workers to these countries.

The disclosure was made during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, where Secretary Overseas Pakistanis Dr Arshad informed the committee that the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait had expressed concerns about various issues related to overseas Pakistanis, GeoTV reported. 

Arshad told the committee that 0.6 million to 0.8 million Pakistanis leave the country every year, and only 2,00,000 to 3,00,000 return. UAE has a yearly quota of 1.6 million Pakistanis which has now exceeded 1.8 million. And Pakistanis are behind nearly 50 per cent of the crimes occurring in UAE.

The Gulf nations’ concerns include Pakistanis travelling under the guise of pilgrimage and begging in these countries. And more recently, Pakistani men have been making inappropriate videos in front of women in Dubai, Pakistani nurses have refused to work in Kuwait and labourers have refused to wear helmets in Qatar.

This follows a previous report from September 2023, when Dr Arshad informed the same committee that among all Pakistanis leaving the country, “beggars” were travelling abroad in the highest numbers. The Pakistani government then decided to suspend the passports of 2,000 ‘beggars’, and blacklisted them for seven years, adding that this practice brings disrepute to the country

Saudi Arabia has now stated that they will only permit workers to be employed if they pass the test administered by the National Centre for Human Resources Development.


Also read: Pakistani beggars together earn $42 billion a year. It’s a global enterprise


Migration to the Gulf

More than 90 per cent of all migrant workers from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka take jobs in a GCC country, according to a 2015 International Labour Organisation (ILO) report. Pakistan was also the second largest labour migrant exporter to these countries.

In 2022, over 7,50,000 educated young Pakistanis opted to seek employment abroad due to the country’s uncertain economic and political situation and shrinking job opportunities.

This is nearly three times the departures in 2021 (2,25,000) and 2020 (2,88,000). This also included 92,000 highly educated individuals, such as doctors, engineers, IT experts, and accountants, Express Tribune reported. The Bureau of Emigration noted that the majority of these emigrants moved to Middle Eastern countries, primarily Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

A 2022 research article by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) also found that over the last 40 years, around eight million workers have moved abroad through formal channels, mostly to the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been the main destinations, but workers have also gone to other oil-rich countries like Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. Moving to places outside the Middle East is uncommon, showing that Pakistan has not found many new job markets for its workers.

Each year, sending workers to the Gulf countries helps reduce the pressure on Pakistan’s local job market. This outflow represents about one-third of new job seekers in Pakistan and more than 10 per cent of the country’s unemployed labour force.

Regarding the government’s efforts to tackle the pressing challenges, officials stated that the ministry is currently collecting data on job availability and emerging professions in different countries.

They also noted that a cabinet committee has been established under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address immigration issues.

(Edited by Theres Sudeep)

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14 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t think there’s enough words to do justice to the unforgivable abuses Indians and the gulf countries/north africa have committed for decades against Pakistanis, but in a few words, i would like to say, such people will experience a very unforgiving hell, not only on earth, but elsewhere, in the universe and beyond, and nearly forgot to add the next life. Or did i do that on purpose? Hint, it’s not a hindu god, jesus, allah

  2. Here in Qatar, they are very polité and hygienic. They carry themselves well and not docile as other nationalities.

  3. Indians do most of scams even with arab nationals run away to india with arabs money . Saudi gov should hang over beggars ,but most of the time all shalwar kameez wearers are labeled as pakistanis which is not true , I live since 33yrs in qatar but most of scams with workers in companies are done by indians and bangalies . Electronic frauds especially through vodafone tele . Such a waste article , the ass of shame for everyone is behind them unwatchable by themselves , so indians should not beat drums on such news !

  4. What about your country peoples.
    who are work as massage center and they are selling the alcohol and drug. Even your girls doing work as Prostitutes and Call Girls also your man calling to everyone today reached new escort come and take enjoyment with indian bhabhi tamil malwari nadu haidarabadi. In your office situation if you want to get big rank or project then your indian guys will bring his Wife Sister or Daughter and one bottle Vodka or scotch for one night to PRO HR ACCOUNTANT MANAGER and Acts. On 2nd day when you will received your Wife Sister or Duaghter. After than They will sign your Project or Promotion. Then You will get promotion or Project. This is indian peoples value and standard. Its True or Not
    I will wait for your reply Son of bitch

  5. You can’t just blame some particular nationality for being fraudulent, beggers,,yes true some Pakistanis were found in the uae for begging money,but it doesn’t mean all indians are well-mannered, honest ,there are thousands of fraud, scam and are committed by indians ,not paying salaries to their workers

  6. Before sending pakistani national abroad must be mandatory lessons for 2 months with 8 hours daily classes. The ethics course be must for travelers for job purposes abroad. Must take Oath that wont commit any crime. must get approval from Federal Investigation agency approval before applying for visa.

  7. Very heartless set of people the Pakistanis. Sorry to say this but…. this is the actual truth. Presently am working in a Chinese company with them and the Chinese Boss don’t want a Pakistani Forman but these set of people Pakistanis are giving me a very hard time because they are jealous an African is above them.

    • Don’t spread the hate you Hippocrates, in first for the road work the helmet is not necessary second due to high heat wawes and temperature of road we allow the labour to take of their safety helmets off to avoid exhaustness india’s media is always like their movies.

  8. The article is ok ..but it’s also confusing..Are the figures written in millions or thousands?
    Because you might mistakenly pass a wrong message to the public…

  9. It’s fact that there are some issues regarding this. But despite all these factors indicated in the article Pakistani labour force demand in gulf countries is still high. Indian media like Indian government highlights anti Pakistan propaganda with mis informations, Why are you not highlights Indian community involved in immorality and other social evils across the world. In fact where’s human there are many moral and other issues because of human nature. So make a big propoganda over small issues showing enemity isn’t right. Look around in your country. Crime rate, religious enemity with Muslims, poverty and many other issues.

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