Pakistan to send 600 health workers to Kuwait

Zulfiqar Bukhari, the prime minister's special assistant on overseas Pakistanis, talks to members of the Pakistani community in Kuwait during a video conference on May 14, 2020. (Photo courtesy: Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & HRD)

• Islamabad will request Kuwait for free visa extension for its nationals, PM's aide says
• Coronavirus pandemic has put medics and health workers in high demand across the globe

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will send 600 health workers to Kuwait upon the request of the Gulf state, special assistant to the prime minister on overseas Pakistanis, Zulfiqar Bukhari, said on Thursday.
“Health workers will include nurses and doctors,” Bukhari informed during his telecon with the Pakistani community residing in Kuwait, the ministry said in its official handout.
Coronavirus pandemic has led to health emergency across the globe with medics and health workers being in high demand to help states steer through the crisis.
The PM’s aide said the move will “enhance bilateral relations” with the rich Gulf state, which was home to a large number of Pakistanis employed in different sectors.
Bukhari further said that Islamabad will repatriate 5,500 nationals stranded in Kuwait through four special flights over the next two weeks.
He said, “The data of all the repatriates who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 crisis will be available on a portal launched in June.” These unemployed returnees would be accommodated under government employment schemes, he added.
Bukhari said he would also talk to Kuwait’s labor minister requesting free visa extension for Pakistani labor force.  
The Arabian Gulf is a preferred destination for Pakistani workers who are employed in different fields. Pakistan’s official statistics show that the work force moving to GCC countries increased by 47% in 2019 as compared to 2018.