Tag: Skilled Labor

  • Agricultural boom: Pakistan’s farm exports surge by more than 70%

    Agricultural boom: Pakistan’s farm exports surge by more than 70%

    In October 2023, Pakistan experienced a notable surge in exports, marking a 13.5 per cent increase to reach $2.7 billion, as reported by the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF).  

    Simultaneously, the trade deficit saw a 4.5 per cent reduction during the same period, indicating positive economic developments. 

    Chaudhry Ahmad Jawad, the Vice President of PBF, highlighted the remarkable 73 per cent growth in the agriculture sector for October.  

    Notably, exports of rice and sesame seeds played a pivotal role in this expansion, showcasing a diversification of the country’s export portfolio and underscoring the robustness of the agricultural industry. 

    Jawad emphasised the imperative for Pakistan to boost its service exports, particularly in information and communication technology (ICT), to address the balance of payment deficit.  

    Drawing a comparison with India, he noted India’s remarkable achievement in ICT exports surpassing $140 billion in fiscal year 2022–23, contrasting with Pakistan’s stagnant growth at $2.6 billion in fiscal year 2021–22.  

    The key differentiator, as Jawad pointed out, is the focus on technology and engineering in India over the years, leading to a skilled labour pool. 

    While acknowledging the challenges in the short to medium term, Jawad expressed optimism about Pakistan’s potential for growth in the ICT sector. He suggested addressing the skills gap by offering crash courses to enhance the capabilities of IT graduates. 

    Jawad further underscored concerns raised by IT companies in Pakistan, stating that despite an abundance of talent, the technology sector faces difficulties due to a lack of demand and challenges in remitting money outside Pakistan.  

    He called for government intervention to tackle these issues, pointing to the State Bank of Pakistan’s efforts in 2020 and emphasising the need for ongoing attention to restore confidence. 

    Finally, a PBF official commended the caretaker IT minister’s goal of increasing ICT exports to $10 billion and bringing renowned payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe to Pakistan.  

    However, he raised concerns about existing limitations on exporters’ remittances, urging the finance division to address this critical issue. 

  • Human trafficked beggars from Pakistan arrested in alarming numbers abroad

    Human trafficked beggars from Pakistan arrested in alarming numbers abroad

    The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis was briefed on a concerning issue whereby a significant number of beggars are being trafficked abroad. Zulfikar Haider, the Secretary of the Overseas Ministry, brought this matter to light during a Senate panel discussion centred on the migration of both skilled and unskilled labourers from Pakistan.

    Haider revealed that an alarming 90 percent of beggars apprehended in foreign countries happen to be Pakistani nationals. This predicament has led to a notable strain on foreign jails, with reports from the ambassadors of Iraq and Saudi Arabia attesting to the overcrowding of their detention facilities due to these arrests.

    During the course of the discussion, Secretary Haider also pointed out a troubling trend where Japan has emerged as a newfound destination for such beggars.

    According to ARY News, Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hasan highlighting the varying demands placed on Japan for skilled workers from different countries, including India, Nepal, and Pakistan, each sending a distinct number of individuals to meet these demands.

    Senator Hasan further raised the issue of unemployment among engineers in Pakistan, highlighting that a staggering 50,000 engineers in the country are currently without employment opportunities.

    In the context of the Middle East, the senator provided statistics, noting that approximately three million Pakistanis reside in Saudi Arabia, while another 1.5 million have sought employment in the UAE, with an additional 0.2 million in Qatar.

    It is imperative to underscore that beggar syndicates are also exploiting minors, subjecting them to harsh weather conditions for personal gain. These syndicates have devised new tactics to extract money from people, contributing to a distressing trend whereby the number of beggars has doubled within a mere three-year span, as per recent reports.