The Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh and its consulate in Jeddah have registered 13,000 illegal Pakistani workers seeking repatriation or rectification of their status before the grace period ends on July 3.
“We are aiming to provide better facilities for illegal Pakistani workers to rectify their status,” Community Welfare Attache Moeenuddin told Arab News.
He said the embassy is handing out hundreds of passes daily to those who want to return to Pakistan.
“We are also providing out-pass forms to different focal points because the embassy is keen on helping distressed Pakistani workers,” he added.
Moeenuddin requested all Pakistani workers to take advantage of the three-month grace period and the concessions offered by the Saudi government in the new labor policy.
He said: “We have registered 15 volunteers but we need more people to serve illegal workers. If anyone wants to work as a volunteer, they can contact the Pakistan Embassy.”
He added that after the grace period ends, the Ministry of Interior will begin search operations to arrest all those who are in violation of Saudi residency rules. “We are trying to find employment under new sponsors for illegal workers.
We are also coordinating with many Pakistani, Saudi and international companies for the employment of Pakistani workers,” he said, adding, “Thirty companies in Riyadh and 19 in Jeddah have expressed interest in taking Pakistani workers under their sponsorship.”
Last week, the minister for overseas Pakistanis, Feroze Jamal Shah, lauded the efforts of Pakistani Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan. “Ambassador Khan aims to safeguard the Pakistani community in the Kingdom and seek a solution to their problems, especially the rectification of their legal status,” Jamal Shah said in a letter of appreciation.
“We praise the hard work of Muhammad Naeem Khan in assisting distressed Pakistani workers in the Kingdom. Khan took the illegal workers issue very seriously during his talks with Labor Ministry and other Saudi officials,” he said.
The letter was handed over to the ambassador by Khalid Mehmood Chuadary, member of the Board of Governors of the Overseas Pakistani Foundation (OPF).
