
Pakistan says will resume exporting skilled workers to Kuwait after lifting of 19-year visa ban
In May, Kuwait officially lifted its long-standing visa ban on Pakistani nationals, allowing the resumption of work, family, business and tourist visas. Kuwait had stopped issuing visas to citizens of Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan, citing difficult security conditions in the countries.
Thousands of Pakistanis every year travel abroad for jobs in Gulf countries, Europe, the United States and other nations. The remittances sent by Pakistani citizens employed abroad is crucial for the South Asian country to shore up its foreign reserves, especially as it grapples with a prolonged economic crisis.
'Overseas Employment Corporation, an attached department of the Ministry of OP&HRD, would export skilled workers to the State of Kuwait after a long time,' the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. 'Pakistan has been sending its skilled workers to Kuwait.'
The state media said there were vacancies for the post of a warehouse supervisor, whose maximum age can be 35, and has diploma or a bachelor's degree and must be fluent in English, in Kuwait. APP said applicants should possess strong customer service skills and have experience working in retail warehouses or logistics companies.
Jobs for the posts of warehouse coordinator, warehouseman, carpenter, and unskilled workers, assistant furniture and drivers were also available, the state-run media said. It said the deadline for the submission of documents by applicants is Aug. 15, 2025.
Pakistan, which enjoys cordial relations with Kuwait and cooperation in several sectors, established diplomatic relations with the Gulf country in October 1963.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan says evidence of money laundering by top real estate firm, founder found by FIA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Wednesday that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has collected evidence of money laundering, amounting to billions of rupees, by the country's top real estate firm Bahria Town and its founder Malik Riaz Hussain. The development takes place amid a high-profile crackdown against Bahria Town. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan's anti-graft body, had earlier announced auctioning six Bahria Town properties in August. NAB said the sale aims to recover unpaid amounts from a settlement deal linked to the £190 million case involving Hussain. Hussain has spoken publicly for months about being pressured due to 'political motives' and facing financial losses. In a televised message on Wednesday, Tarar said the FIA had conducted a raid on Tuesday at the Begum Akhter Rukhsana Memorial Trust Safari Hospital, during which it recovered evidence of Bahria Town's money laundering involving Rs1.12 billion [$3.9 million]. He said Bahria Town staff members at the hospital attempted to destroy the documents when the raid was conducted, and that though some records were lost, the majority of the evidence was successfully recovered. 'The action that has been taken, this setup that they [Bahria Town] were running in the hospital, is clear proof that billions of rupees were being transferred out of the country through illegal means to damage its economy,' Tarar said. He said this amount was not sent abroad via official or banking channels, rather through hundi-hawala networks. The minister alleged that the Safari Hospital was being used as a 'front' to conceal cash and official records from authorities. Tarar alleged that a man named Khalil, who oversaw Bahria Town's operations, is currently in custody. Similarly, the minister said individuals named Imran and Qaiser were found to be operating a hundi-hawala network, with connections to Bahria Town's chief financial officer and director of finance. The information minister said the hospital's ambulance was employed to transport documents and money. He said the FIA is investigating the case, saying that the locations of several individuals who have absconded have already been identified. He urged those suspects to present themselves before the law, noting that comprehensive evidence has been collected against them. Tarar assured the residents of Bahria Town that their rights will remain protected during the course of the investigation. 'This action over money laundering is against Malik Riaz and his officials and his family members who are involved in this,' he said. Riaz or Bahria Town has so far not responded to the allegations. HUSSAIN, AL-QADIR TRUST CASE While Hussain has not explicitly named who was pressuring him or why, media and analysts widely speculate the crackdown relates to the Al-Qadir Trust case, which involves accusations former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, during his premiership from 2018-2022, were given land by Hussain as a bribe in exchange for illegal favors. In January, a court sentenced Khan to 14 years imprisonment in the Al-Qadir Trust case. In 2019, Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) said Hussain had agreed to hand over £190 million held in Britain to settle a UK investigation into whether the money was from the proceeds of crime. The agency said the assets would be passed to the government of Pakistan and the settlement with Hussain was 'a civil matter, and does not represent a finding of guilt.' The case made against Hussain and ex-PM Khan was that instead of putting the tycoon's settlement money in Pakistan's treasury, Khan's government used the money to pay fines levied by a court against Hussain for illegal acquisition of government lands at below-market value for development in Karachi. Hussain, who hasn't appeared before an anti-graft agency to submit his reply to summons issued to him, has denied any wrongdoing. Khan and his wife have also pleaded innocence. The latest development marks another escalation in the legal troubles facing Hussain, widely regarded for years as Pakistan's most influential businessman, known for close ties with political, media and military elites. On Tuesday, Hussain said in a statement on social media platform X his property empire was on the brink of collapse due to what he termed a politically motivated crackdown. He claimed Bahria Town's bank accounts had been frozen, vehicles seized and dozens of employees arrested, forcing a near shutdown of operations. 'The situation has reached a point where we are being forced to completely shut down all Bahria Town activities across Pakistan,' Hussain said. 'We apologize to the residents and stakeholders of Bahria Town.' Earlier this year in January, NAB put out a public notice cautioning people against investing in Hussain's new real estate venture to build luxury apartments in Dubai.


Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan stocks hit all-time high as banking rally, rupee strength fuel optimism
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's benchmark stock index surged to a record high on Wednesday, driven by a sharp rally in banking stocks and a strengthening currency, as investors bet on continued macroeconomic stability and easing industrial tariffs under the country's $7 billion IMF program. The KSE-100 Index gained 2,051 points, or 1.43 percent, to close at 145,088 after rising more than 2,150 points during intraday trade. 'Banking stocks remained the star performers as HBL, NBP, MEBL, and UBL collectively contributed 1,017 points to the benchmark,' said Maaz Mulla, Vice President of Equity Sales at Topline Securities. 'HBL and NBP hit their upper circuits during intraday trade, although mild profit-taking toward the close trimmed some gains.' Investor appetite remained strong, with traded volume climbing to 784 million shares and turnover reaching Rs 52.7 billion, both notably higher than in recent sessions. Bank of Punjab (BOP) led volumes with 67 million shares traded. The rally comes as Pakistan shows signs of macroeconomic recovery following the IMF Executive Board's approval of a new $7 billion loan program in September 2024. The program, which succeeded a short-term Stand-By Arrangement, focuses on structural reforms, energy sector overhauls, and fiscal consolidation. The country's rupee has also rebounded sharply in recent weeks, buoyed by steady remittance inflows and an aggressive crackdown on the dollar black market launched in mid-2024. Foreign exchange reserves have crossed $11.3 billion, according to central bank data, their highest level in nearly three years. 'Stocks [reached a] new all-time high amid strong economic outlook,' said Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corp. 'Surging rupee amid government subsidies for fully funded remittances scheme, surging global crude oil prices and government resolve to settle power sector circular debt easing industrial tariff, financial restructuring played [a] catalyst role in bullish close at PSX.' Energy reforms, particularly the government's recent plan to restructure circular debt and reduce industrial power tariffs, have played a central role in restoring investor confidence in manufacturing and large-scale industry. Improved current account dynamics and a lower inflation trajectory, down to 12.6 percent in July from a high of over 30 percent in 2023, have also helped fuel sentiment. Analysts say the market is likely to maintain momentum if policy continuity holds and reforms under the IMF program remain on track.


Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan releases agricultural census after 14 years, showing increase in livestock, cultivated areas
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal launched the findings of the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 on Wednesday, showing a marked increase in the country's population of livestock, agriculture farm households and cultivated area, state media reported. Pakistan conducts its agricultural census every 10 years, with authorities conducting the last one in 2010. The main purpose of the census is to provide information about the agrarian structure of the country for baseline data for food security and better livelihood of the population, and to share estimates for the population of livestock. As per the findings of the census launched by Iqbal, Pakistan's agriculture farm households have risen to 11.7 million households in 2024 from 8.3 million in 2010. 'As per the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 data, livestock increased to 251.3 million in 2024 from 143 million in 2006 with the growth of 3.18 percent per annum,' state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. The broadcaster said Pakistan's cultivated area increased from 42.6 million acres in 2010 to 52.8 million acres in 2024, adding that 79 percent of the cultivated area in the country is irrigated by canals and tube wells. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Iqbal said agriculture remains the backbone of Pakistan's economy, noting that it contributes significantly to the country's GDP, exports and employment. 'He commended the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics for introducing innovation, transparency, and precision in data collection, which is vital in planning for the country's economic growth and prosperity,' Radio Pakistan said. Agriculture constitutes the largest sector of Pakistan's economy, as per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), with the majority of the country's population, directly or indirectly, depending on it. As per the PBS, agriculture contributes about 24 percent to the GDP and accounts for half of Pakistan's employed labor force. It is also the largest source of foreign exchange earnings.