Gulf Countries Voice Concerns About Pakistani Workers
In a recent Senate Standing Committee meeting, Gulf countries expressed concerns about Pakistani expatriates and laborers. Secretary Dr. Arshad reported that the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait have raised issues about Pakistani workers.
This follows earlier reports from September 2023 about Pakistani beggars misusing visas and traveling to the Gulf under false pretenses. Now, the focus is on inappropriate behavior, such as making videos in front of women in Dubai.
Dr. Arshad highlighted that around 600,000 to 800,000 Pakistanis travel abroad annually, with 96% going to GCC countries. Concerns include overstay, crimes committed by Pakistanis (who make up 50% of crime in the UAE), and allegations of poor work ethics.
Gulf states are now favoring workers from Africa due to cost and other issues. For example, Kuwait has faced problems with Pakistani nurses refusing duties, and Qatar reports non-compliance with safety regulations.
The Pakistani government is working on addressing these concerns by collecting data on job availability and improving worker training, aiming to enhance the perception of Pakistani laborers abroad.
