The special assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on overseas Pakistanis, Jawad Sohrab Malik, commended Saudi Arabia for its leadership in improving global job markets at the inaugural Global Labour Market Conference (GLMC) in Riyadh this week, as reported by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) on Saturday.
The GLMC provides a crucial platform for experts, specialists, and stakeholders in the labor market to engage in discussions regarding present and future challenges in the international job market, as well as to propose innovative solutions. Launched by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the conference took place from December 13-14.
The deep cultural, defense, and economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, steeped in history and religion, were highlighted. With over two million Pakistanis residing in the kingdom, Saudi Arabia stands as the largest contributor to remittance inflows in Pakistan.
During discussions with reporters, Malik praised Saudi Arabia for its proactive efforts in enhancing international job markets to adapt to ongoing changes. He emphasized the evolving nature of today’s job market, stressing the necessity for acquiring new skills for future jobs and the emergence of novel professions.
Addressing labor ministers from 26 countries at the conference, Malik emphasized Pakistan’s significant pool of unskilled, semi-skilled, and highly skilled labor, poised to meet global job market demands. He stressed the importance for both ministerial participants and foreign employers to recognize the mutual benefits of engaging Pakistan’s highly competitive workforce.
Malik outlined Pakistan’s aims to boost worker productivity by revamping STEM education, enhancing digital literacy, and fostering public-private partnerships for practical tech exposure. He proposed comprehensive social protection measures, including employment insurance, healthcare, pensions, career support, and family-oriented services, to ensure a technologically proficient Pakistani workforce.
The reaffirmation of Pakistan’s commitment to developing skilled workers and fostering international partnerships in the labor sector was underscored by Jawad Sohrab Malik, as reported by the APP.
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