ISLAMABAD: Ninety Pakistani graduates have secured employment contracts and visas for jobs in the UAE under the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Pakistani state media reported on Wednesday, saying the move would strengthen the country’s economy.
The NAVTTC is a Pakistani body that develops policies and strategies to enhance the quality and relevance of technical, vocational education and training programs in Pakistan. It also develops curriculum for that purpose, tests skills and maintains links with industries to ensure jobs for Pakistani graduates.
The 90 graduates have been recruited by the UAE-based Transguard Group of Companies and the Emirates Group of Companies for roles in security services, aircraft cleaning, and aviation loading, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
“By equipping young Pakistanis with globally relevant skills, we are opening doors to career opportunities abroad while also strengthening Pakistan’s economy,” Wajiha Qamar, Pakistan’s state minister for education, said at an event held in Islamabad to hand over the visa files to the graduates.
She said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to aligning youth training with international market demands.
“Partnerships with reputable international employers not only expand opportunities for our youth but also enhance Pakistan’s global workforce footprint,” Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, the NAVTTC chairperson, was quoted as saying by the APP.
APP said the starting salary package for the new recruits has been set at AED 2,500 [$680.66] per month, with two-year contracts renewable upon completion.
It said that out of the 90 candidates, 42 were NAVTTC trainees who had completed a six-month English language program to prepare for overseas employment.
Thousands of Pakistanis every year travel abroad for jobs in Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia for better work opportunities.
The remittances sent by Pakistani citizens employed abroad are crucial for the South Asian country as it seeks to shore up its foreign reserves, especially as it grapples with a prolonged economic crisis.
Last month, Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment said it sent around 336,999 Pakistanis abroad from Jan. 1 to Jun. 30 this year.
