36,000 Pakistanis lost jobs in Gulf region amid COVID-19
- Despite, job losses mounting into thousands the SAPM was of the view that the figures are minuscule compared to the overall impact of Covid-19 in economies of the region.
Over 36,000 Pakistanis had lost their jobs working in the Gulf region this year, owing to economic slowdown brought by the Coronavirus pandemic, informed Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, special assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.
Despite, job losses mounting into thousands the SAPM was of the view that the figures are minuscule compared to the overall impact of Covid-19 in economies of the region. “The number of Pakistanis who lost their jobs are not big considering the millions of people living in the UAE,” he said, quoted Khaleej Times.
Bukhari said the UAE authorities have assured that Pakistan will be among the favorable nations in the post-pandemic economy. "The government wants more skilled labor to be sent abroad," he said, adding that about 30pc of skilled Pakistanis have got jobs in recent times.
Pakistani expats play a vital role in the country’s economy, providing much-needed dollars in the shape of workers' remittances. As per the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Workers’ remittances rose by an impressive 50.7 percent during June 2020 to reach ‘record high’ $2.466 billion as compared to $1.636bn received in June 2019.
Country-wise, during June 2020, workers' remittances received from Saudi Arabia ($619.4mn), USA ($452.0mn), UAE ($431.7mn) and UK ($401mn) recording an increase of 42pc, 7.1pc, 33.5pc and 40.8pc respectively, as compared to May, 2020.
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