Some 950,000 Pakistani workers have legalized their status so far while 59,000 have left the Kingdom, according to new figures announced by the Pakistani Embassy here on Monday.
Speaking to Arab News, Mueenuddin, community welfare attaché at the Pakistani Embassy, said: “We are ready to support Pakistani workers especially those who arrived in the Kingdom after April 6 on free visas or those who are declared as runaway workers.”
He added: “A total of 59,000 Pakistani workers have already left the Kingdom, with 29,000 workers departing the Kingdom due to the termination of their contracts, while 30,000 leaving on their own accord.”
He said the Pakistan Embassy’s new registration campaign is playing an important role in registering the remaining illegal workers. "We have registered more than 2,000 illegal workers so far through this campaign.”
Mueenuddin emphasized the need to raise awareness among illegal Pakistani workers who are still afraid of contacting embassy officials.
He urged remaining illegal Pakistani workers who did not find jobs and are residing illegally in the Kingdom to coordinate with embassy officials and consulate general in Jeddah for help.
Touching on the issue of unskilled Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, Mueenuddin said: “The Pakistan Embassy appreciates the idea of vocational training centers for Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia as well as in Pakistan for those who aspire to come to the Gulf in pursuit of a better future.”
“We will present this idea to the Pakistani government with the aim of opening vocational training institutes in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan for the betterment of the country and overseas Pakistanis,” he added.
Regarding the issue of recruiting nationals to the Kingdom, he said: “We request the Saudi government to increase the quota of Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, so that Pakistani workers can put their services and talents to the best use in the Kingdom.”
About Pakistani prisoners in Saudi jails, Mueenuddin said that some 700 Pakistani prisoners are in Saudi jails. The embassy gives special attention to the prisoners and strives to find possible means of assisting them with legal procedures, he added.
Recently, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, discussed many bilateral issues with Crown Prince Salman. He also discussed the need to regularize the remaining illegal Pakistani workers.
950,000 Pakistanis legalize status
