Saudi project to certify skills of Pakistani labor started

 A trial project of skills verification has been started for Pakistani experts who want to work in Saudi Arabia, under which Pakistani experts in five professions will now be able to go to the Kingdom after giving their skills test in Pakistan.

The trial project was formally inaugurated by Federal Minister for Immigrant Development and Human Resources Sajid Hussain Turi and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al Maliki at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Sajid Hussain Turi announced that Pakistan will establish an excellent Technical and Vocational University in collaboration with Saudi Arabia.

The federal minister said that the government and the people of Pakistan are proud of their brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia. Currently, Saudi Arabia is the home and livelihood of more than 2.3 million Pakistanis.

He said that he is grateful to Khadim Khurmain Sharifin for the full assistance during the floods in Pakistan.

In his address on the occasion, the Saudi ambassador said that those Pakistanis who want to go to Saudi Arabia for employment as electricians, plumbers, welders and auto mechanics or air-conditioning and refrigeration specialists will undergo written and practical tests. After that they will be issued skill certificates and they will be eligible for employment in Saudi Arabia.

He said that for this purpose, 12 examination centers have been established in eight different cities of the country with the support of Newtech, a Pakistani institution.

Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki said that Saudi Arabia's effort is to benefit Pakistani workers by completing their tests because workers who have obtained professional test certificates are considered skilled and more reliable.

In addition, the program will always strive to create a safe and accident-free environment.

He said that the Skills Verification Program is one of the most important initiatives of the Ministry of Human Resources with the aim of rebalancing the structure of the Saudi labor market to provide skilled workers with added value and sustainable employment based on performance-based principles. Opportunities should be provided.

He thanked the President, Prime Minister and Sajid Tori for their support in this project and said that it is no secret to you that choosing Pakistan as the first country is the result of the spirit of our wise leadership. The relationship between the two countries can be strengthened in various fields.

 Sajid Hussain Turi further said in his address that the purpose of Skills Verification Program is to provide quality manpower from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

He said that under this program, Pakistanis will get ample employment opportunities in major projects under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

I am grateful to Prince Muhammad bin Salman and Ambassador Haramen Sharif Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki for starting the Skills Verification Program in Pakistan.

He said that under this program, thousands of skilled Pakistanis will get jobs in Saudi Arabia on good salaries.

For this purpose, examination centers have been established in eight cities of Pakistan. Among them, more centers will be opened in Kohat, Mingora, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, DI Khan, South Punjab and Sindh.