Days of Pakistani unskilled workers getting jobs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are almost over as the country is fast moving forward to high-end skilled market, said the Pakistani envoy.
In an interview with Gulf News published on Tuesday, Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said “We now need to train accountants, IT professionals, bankers, AI experts, physicians, nurses and pilots for the UAE job market.”
Ambassador Tirmizi further said “With the UAE’s demand for skilled workers continuing to grow, the opportunity for Pakistan is immense if they focus on improving skills.”
Ambassador Tirmizi sat down with Gulf News for a conversation about the changing job market trends, his future plans and the evolving ties between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. His vision for Pakistan-UAE relations focused heavily on creating jobs and fostering investment.
High-end jobs
“If we train our people in these high-demand sectors, they can step into high-paying roles with salaries ranging from Dh20,000 and above, far above what our current unskilled workers had been getting from Dh1,000 and above,” he explained.
The UAE, he noted, has always been a key trading partner of Pakistan in the MENA region, and now the focus is on attracting more investments from the Emirates into Pakistan. “The partnership is not just about sending our workforce abroad but ensuring that Pakistan’s economic potential was realised on the global stage. We are talking about a partnership that spans generations,” he said.
Global demands
One area that Tirmizi emphasised more during his talk was the importance of skills development. “Today’s world is driven by IT skills, accounting, and health care,” he said, stressing the importance of training the next generation of Pakistanis to meet global demands.
He highlighted the booming global demand for physiotherapists and nurses, not just in the UAE but across the globe.
“We need world-class nursing facilities in Pakistan,” he said, envisioning a future where Pakistani professionals were in demand worldwide.
The aviation industry is another sector where Pakistan had a competitive edge Tirmizi revealed shared that discussions were underway with international aviation colleges to establish pilot training schools in Pakistan, where aspiring aviators could be trained at a fraction of the cost.
Magic number
Remittances from the UAE to Pakistan, Ambassador added, are already on the rise — up by 53% in just six months, reaching $4.5 billion. “Our goal is clear: to cross the $9 billion ‘magic’ mark in remittances within this fiscal year (ending in June), he added.
For Ambassador Tirmizi, this wasn’t just about numbers; it is a testament to the hard work of Pakistani expats from all walks of life. “The blue-collar workers, the crane operators, the security guards — they all contribute to this incredible achievement,” he said, beaming with pride.
For Pakistan, remittances had become one of the primary sources of foreign exchange, surpassing exports in value.
Looking ahead, Tirmizi saw a future where Pakistan could not only meet the needs of its people but also carve out a new identity on the global stage. “We need to open up as a tourist destination, promote higher education, and establish Pakistan’s position in the global economy,” he stated. The UAE, with its strategic location and economic might, is a crucial partner in that vision, he concluded.