Gulf nations 'concerned' over behaviour of Pakistani expats

A number of Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, have raised grave concerns over the conduct of Pakistani expatriates and the labour force, a report said.

The matter was raised by Secretary Overseas Pakistanis Dr Arshad at a Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, where he said that a number of Gulf countries have voiced reservations about the behaviour of overseas Pakistanis.

Dr Arshad added that Pakistanis' work ethics, work attitudes, and criminal activities are big issues. In the UAE, they said, Pakistanis are involved in 50 per cent of crimes, as communicated by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

He said that a rather concerning issue has been raised by these countries pointing at the "inappropriate" behaviour of Pakistanis in the UAE, including them making videos in front of women in Dubai.

Kuwait has raised an issue concerning Pakistani nurses, who are reportedly refusing to perform certain job-related duties and instead put the onus on ward boys for regular day-to-day activities. Moreover, they do not try and learn the local language, but also want to go to Europe after only a six-month stay in the country.

Meanwhile, Qatar, as per the officials of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, complained about Pakistani labourers refusing to wear safety helmets during work.

Earlier in September 2023, officials had said that Pakistani beggars travel to countries like Iraq and Saudi Arabia on the pretext of 'Ziarat' (pilgrimage) and then indulge in begging-related activities.

As per official data, Pakistani nationals accounted for 90 per cent of beggars arrested in these countries.

Furthermore, the officials added that around 2 million Pakistanis are living in Saudi Arabia and 400,000 move to the country every year.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian authorities, the officials said, have asked Pakistanis not to send "beggars and sick people".

The officials said that Pakistanis visit Malaysia for a year, and are then sent to jail after they extend their stay there.

Meanwhile, Senator Nasir Abbas also apprised the forum that in Iraq, Pakistanis are "helpless" as they get hired as cheap labour, adding that they are kept as "prisoners" there.

The ministry noted that these nations are now looking towards African nations for even cheaper labour.

To counter this adverse situation regarding the future of the Pakistani labour force in GCC countries, the officials said that the ministry is compiling data regarding job availability and opportunities in various countries.

A cabinet committee has been set up under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding matters related to immigration, they said.