Qatar to recruit 200,000 trained workers from Pakistan

Qatar is set to welcome 200,000 trained blue-collar workers from Pakistan in the next four years as it constructs the infrastructure to support FIFA World Cup 2022, it has been reported.

Provincial Labour Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarwar told local daily Pakistan Today that the country is developing a new program that will give the workers vocational training, vaccinations, security clearance and basic English language lessons before they head to Qatar for work.

"These committees will provide identity cards, passports, visas, security clearance and vaccinations to the skilled and semi-skilled workers who will be going abroad," Sarwar said.

"A special cell has also been established in the office of the labour secretary for the provision of 200,000 skilled workforce from Pakistan."

The first batch of skilled workers will leave Pakistan by the end of July, 2015. Arrangements have been made for training the workers at the vocational training institutes of the government situated in Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Lahore.

Renowned Economist Dr Qais Aslam told Pakistan Today that it is a great move by the government which would release the pressure from the government for providing opportunities to the workforce in Pakistan.

"These 200,000 workers will get jobs in Qatar and whatever they earn in Qatar will come as foreign remittances to the country which will increase the foreign reserves of the country," said Dr Aslam.

Two committees have been constituted to provide identity cards, passports, visas, security clearance and vaccinations to the skilled and semi-skilled workers before going abroad. [Pakistan Today]