Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA) Vice President Adnan Paracha has written a letter to Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on International Labour Day to draw his attention to the problems of thousands of Pakistani labourers trying to obtain visa numbers in order to travel to Saudi Arabia, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday. 

According to the text of the letter, E-number is not being issued to thousands of Pakistani workers for obtaining Saudi visa in various categories. 

It further states that Pakistani workers worry about losing their employment opportunities because of the delays in the visa process. 

The current issues have been repeatedly brought to the attention of the concerned bodies, but to no avail.

Adnan Parcha said that the dates of thousands of medical reports are about to expire as a result of the non-issuance of the number, and if expired, it will put additional burden of new medical tests on thousands of workers seeking employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is a close friend of Pakistan, and has always helped Pakistan, he said, and urged Bilawal Bhutto to address the issue on priority as the e-number has not not been issued for four months. 

Those who travel to Saudi Arabia include drivers, private employees, general workers, construction workers, hairdressers, welders, farmers' machinery drivers and LTV drivers, Petrol and diesel mechanics, electricians and painters, and plumbers, he added. 

“Since Bilawal Bhutto has always prioritized the problems of underprivileged, he is hereby requested on Labour’s Day to resolve this issue with the Saudi government immediately,” he said. 

Reporter: Ashraf Khan