- Remittances surge as Islamabad eyes expanded labor cooperation under Vision 2030
ISLAMABAD — October 7, 2025 (Agencies): Pakistan is preparing to double its manpower exports to Saudi Arabia, building on a steady rise in labor migration and remittance inflows, officials confirmed on Monday. The move follows the signing of a landmark defense agreement between the two countries last month, which is expected to pave the way for broader economic cooperation.
According to the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BEOE), Pakistan sent 1.88 million workers to Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2024, marking a 21 percent increase from the 1.56 million dispatched during 2015–2019. Remittances from the Kingdom rose from $7.39 billion in 2020 to $8.59 billion in 2024, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as the largest destination for Pakistani workers and the top source of remittances.
“The Saudi-Pakistan defense pact will have a great impact on manpower export. Current average export is around half a million workers per year, and from next year, we hope to double it to one million,” said Gul Akbar, senior director at the BEOE.
The BEOE is working closely with Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to implement measures that will support this expansion. These include proposals for technical training institutes in both countries, enhanced skill certification, and the introduction of an e-visa system for Pakistani workers.
The government has also constituted a high-level committee to oversee bilateral economic engagements with Saudi Arabia, with further agreements expected in the coming months. Officials say the initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which has created strong demand for skilled and semi-skilled labor amid large-scale infrastructure projects and preparations for hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
In contrast, Pakistan’s labor exports to the United Arab Emirates declined sharply by 65 percent from 1.32 million to 463,000 between 2020 and 2024, while Qatar more than doubled its intake from 74,000 to 170,000, reflecting shifting labor dynamics across the Gulf region.
To meet Saudi Arabia’s evolving labor needs, Pakistan has partnered with Takamol, a skill verification program, and its National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) is certifying workers in 62 specialized categories, ranging from construction to healthcare.
“The defense pact has boosted Saudi employers’ confidence in Pakistani workers,” said Masood Ahmad, CEO of M.Pak Makkah Manpower Services, noting increased demand for healthcare professionals and delivery drivers.
Akbar dismissed concerns about “brain drain,” calling overseas employment a national achievement. “Pakistan’s surplus labor should be seen as an economic resource that brings home remittances, knowledge, and technical skills,” he added.
In the last fiscal year, Pakistan recorded $38.3 billion in workers’ remittances, an $8 billion increase from the previous year—surpassing the country’s $7 billion IMF loan program and reinforcing the critical role of labor exports in Pakistan’s external finances.