Qatar has announced plans to hire more skilled Pakistani workers across various sectors including construction, healthcare, hospitality, oil and gas, and services. During an official visit to Qatar, Pakistan’s Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis, Jawad Sohrab Malik, met with Qatar’s Minister of Labour, Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, where several agreements and letters of intent were signed between Pakistan and leading Qatari companies such as Qatari Diyar-Saudi Bin Laden Group, Hamad Bin Khaled Contracting Company (HBK), Ali Bin Ali Holding, JMJ Holding, Tabeeb Care Medical Services, and Al Rawnaq International Projects. These agreements aim to expand employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Qatar, where an estimated 300,000 Pakistanis already live and contribute nearly $1 billion annually in remittances to Pakistan’s economy. The Pakistani government has emphasized the importance of training, certification, and upskilling its workforce to meet Qatar’s market demands, focusing on technical, language, and soft skills to prepare “quality labour” for overseas employment. This collaboration not only strengthens Pakistan-Qatar relations but also promises economic benefits for both nations through increased employment, remittances, and skilled workforce exchange. However, officials have highlighted that Qatar’s demand will focus primarily on qualified and trained professionals, meaning Pakistani workers must improve their skills and verify employment offers carefully to benefit from these growing opportunities.
