Dilemma of overseas Pakistani workers
Prof Dr Zahir Shah
As I have visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia twice, I have observed the Pakistani working class very closely, for the area being of my interest in the professional development. During my stay in Saudi Arabia, I have noticed that majority of people work in the construction and transport companies for having low quality education as most of them go there after completing matriculation in Pakistan.
This less educated or illiterate class constitutes a large portion of overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia. They have been there at least for a half of decade to earn for their families and households. Their promotion is stationery because they can not improve their qualification in consonance with the changing time.
The Government of Pakistan has also not envisioned any plan for them which has deprived of these employees from becoming prosperous like the workers of other countries. Most of the people from other countries, particularly India and Bangladesh occupy higher positions in jobs due to the plans their governments have sketched for them.
By the plans here I mean giving opportunities of professional and skill development to the people of these countries for settling them in Saudi Arabia. Though this fact cannot be denied that some of the government institutions like National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) are doing a great job, but still the actual point is missing or out of sight.
As per my knowledge, if a person in Saudi Arabia holds a one-year technical diploma, he can go to the council of Saudi engineers and get membership through which a 5 years skilled person in the construction field can change his/her fate by increasing forex for the country as well.
Such skilled persons are then considered auxiliary engineers and get a reasonable package for their jobs. On the other hand, a bitter reality lies in the existence of certain bodies which discourages skill based certifications and even foreign affairs attestation is not possible for any diploma received without prior recommendation of the regulatory bodies.
Though these frameworks are good for ordinary people but treating all labourers equally is against the parlance of justice. If a grey area is filled with properly strategizing plan, things would get better but the matter became worst as some institutions initiated a robust blow to them by verifying their existed documentation.
This scribe is not advocating fraudulence but there should be a grey area between what is good and what is bad for society. Since 1950s, around the world, the experience based professional certification award is underway except in Pakistan. Even in France, professionals in a specific field are awarded with professional doctorate.
The prime challenge for overseas Pakistanis is that they cannot leave their jobs and come to Pakistan for regular study. For now, a better solution for improving skills and nature of their works is that certain bodies and prestigious institutions should be opened for their online trade test, and the seekers or workers should be awarded one or two-year diplomas depending on their competencies in the respective fields.
The writer is an academic and researcher, based in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He has a vast experience in teaching, research and administration in higher education sector, and published a number of research papers in accredited and recognized journals.
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