Startling revelations have emerged during a recent session of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, shedding light on a concerning issue. According to Overseas Ministry Secretary Zulfikar Haider, approximately 90 percent of beggars arrested in foreign countries hail from Pakistan, raising alarm bells about the extent of this phenomenon.
During the committee’s discussion on the matter of skilled and unskilled labor leaving Pakistan, Haider disclosed this alarming statistic. The situation has also been linked to an increase in human trafficking, as many beggars from Pakistan are moving abroad in search of better opportunities or resorting to illicit means.
Haider further explained that a significant number of these beggars exploit pilgrim visas to travel to countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq. Shockingly, he pointed out that some beggars are arrested at holy sites and are subsequently identified as Pakistani nationals. Additionally, Japan has emerged as a new destination for such visitors, indicating the global reach of this issue.
Despite this disconcerting trend, Haider highlighted Pakistan’s historical role in exporting skilled labor and expressed optimism that foreign remittances would increase when professionals from the country worked abroad. He noted that Saudi Arabia now prefers skilled labor over untrained individuals.
Senator Hasan, a member of the committee, raised concerns about the employment situation in Pakistan, revealing that approximately 50,000 engineers in the country were unemployed. Drawing a stark comparison, he stated, “India has reached the moon, while we stumble every day.”
Moreover, the committee was provided with data indicating the presence of around three million Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia, 1.5 million in the UAE, and 0.2 million in Qatar, underlining the significance of Pakistan’s diaspora in various countries.
As Pakistan grapples with the challenge of its citizens resorting to begging abroad, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis continues its discussions on how to address this issue and improve the prospects of its skilled labor force in the global job market.
Sources By Agencies
