Saudi Vice Minister for Labor meets with the Special Assistant to the Pakistani PM for Expat Affairs to discuss supporting Pakistani labor during the Corona pandemic crisis

H.E. Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor held a virtual meeting today, 18th May 2020 with the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan for Expatriate Affairs and Human Resources Development, Mr. Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari to discuss developments in the Saudi labor market resulting from the Corona pandemic crisis, and their impact on the workforce in the Kingdom. During the meeting, Dr.Abuthnain highlighted some of the major initiatives launched by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the labor market and the workforce, including enabling expatriates to return to their countries during the current crisis. Mr. Bukhari expressed his utmost thanks and gratitude for the Ministry’s efforts on this front, and welcomed this initiative confirming their full cooperation with the Saudi governmental entities to facilitate the immediate return of Pakistani labor to Pakistan, including exit/re-entry permit seekers and those whose contracts have expired and wish to obtain a final exit. Before concluding, the two sides discussed the mechanism to benefit from this opportunity, and Dr. Abuthnain stressed on the need to compile a full list of all Pakistani citizens who wish to return, and provide their details to the Ministry through the designated online portal (Awdah) to facilitate their safe travels back to Pakistan in the near future