Doha: Pakistan has proposed a comprehensive four-pronged framework to enhance workforce capacity, drive skills development, and promote ethical labour mobility across the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
According to Radio Pakistan, speaking at the Sixth Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers (ICLM) in Doha, Qatar, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain proposed the launch of an OIC Skills Partnership. This initiative focuses on training workers in emerging fields such as digital technology, renewable energy, and the care economy.
He called for the establishment of ethical Labour Mobility Corridors with standardized, bilateral templates that ensure fair recruitment and protection practices rooted in the OIC Charter’s call for fairness and justice. The Minister emphasized the development of portable social security schemes for migrant workers, ensuring that their years of service are recognized wherever they contribute. He stressed expanding joint programs under the Islamic Development Bank’s Youth Employment Support Programme (YES) to foster entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems across the Member States.
Chaudhary Salik Hussain mentioned that Pakistan is ready to host pilot projects and training exchanges under these initiatives in partnership with OIC Member States and international development partners. He emphasized the need for moving beyond fragmented efforts and embracing regional integration to harness the potential of the Islamic world.
The Minister stated that Pakistan stands ready to work closely with OIC institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), SESRIC, COMCEC, and the OIC Labour Centre, to develop joint programs in skills, data sharing, and social protection. Urging stronger ties among OIC labour markets, he proposed that Gulf countries, as global hubs for manpower, consider expanding employment and visa opportunities for workers from Islamic countries in the spirit of solidarity, security, and shared prosperity.
He pointed out that over 11 million overseas Pakistanis are currently contributing to global economies while sending home more than 38 billion dollars annually in remittances. He noted that Pakistan fully endorses the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for skilled workers. If collectively implemented, the MRA could open new employment avenues and create a seamlessly integrated Islamic labour market.
Highlighting Pakistan’s domestic achievements, the Minister shared that under the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF), over 200,000 youth have received internationally aligned skills certifications. He stated that the country’s National Employment Policy is designed to strengthen workplace safety, promote inclusion, especially for women and persons with disabilities, and extend social protection. Additionally, Pakistan is developing targeted corridors for safe and regular migration to meet workforce demands in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and ICT across the Gulf and beyond.
Salik Hussain emphasized that Pakistan values its bilateral partnerships with countries like the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, which have employed millions of Pakistani workers through ethical recruitment pathways. He mentioned the expansion of collaboration with NAVTTC, ILO, ICMPD, and GIZ to align skills training with employer demand in the Gulf region. These partnerships are building bridges between technical training in Pakistan and job placement abroad.