Pakistan has set a target of training and deploying 300,000 to 400,000 workers for projects associated with the FIFA World Cup 2034 taking place in Saudi Arabia.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to increase overseas employment opportunities and strengthen Pakistan’s position in the global labour market.
According to media reports, manpower planning is being carried out keeping in view the expected demand due to the FIFA World Cup 2034.
Trained Pakistani workers will provide support in the sectors of infrastructure construction, aviation, tourism, and related services during 2026 to 2034.
This project is part of the government’s efforts to increase the export of manpower and improve the skills of Pakistani workers aspiring for overseas employment.
During the July to March period of the financial year 2025-26, a total of 215,719 workers were provided soft skills training, the purpose of which was to increase their adaptability, productivity, and capability to secure employment opportunities globally.
According to documents, overseas employment is an important pillar of Pakistan’s labour market strategy; during the year 2025, the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment registered 762,499 workers for overseas employment.
While since 1972 until now, more than 15 million Pakistanis have gone for employment through official sources to more than 50 countries.
According to official statistics, more than 96 per cent of Pakistani workers going abroad work in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
These workers play a prominent role in the national economy in the form of remittances, which are counted among the most important sources of foreign exchange for Pakistan after exports.
In the year 2025, Saudi Arabia remained the largest destination for Pakistani workers, where 530,256 workers went, which constitutes 69.54 per cent of the total registration for overseas employment that year.
Due to the increasing opportunities in infrastructure, construction, and services sectors under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, the demand for skilled manpower is constantly increasing.
Documents also show that Pakistan is expanding labour mobility partnerships outside the Gulf region as well; under the Pakistan-European Union Migration and Mobility Dialogue, the country is in contact with European partners regarding legal migration and manpower cooperation.
Italy has announced the allocation of a quota of 10,500 seasonal and non-seasonal workers for Pakistan during a 3-year period, while progress is also being made towards formal labour cooperation arrangements based on skilled workers with Germany and Greece.
The government is also taking digital initiatives to modernise the immigration system; the Pakistan Immigrant Management Framework is being prepared which will interconnect 14 relevant agencies and ease the procedure of overseas employment through an online verification system.
Similarly, the Digital HR Pool System has been made functional, through which biometric verification, better selection of jobs, and a transparent recruitment system will be ensured.
It is stated in the documents that through continuous investment in skills development, overseas employment facilitation, and labour market reforms, Pakistan aspires to benefit from emerging global opportunities and pave the way for higher-skill and higher-income employment for its manpower.
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