Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Pakistan can not secure a respectable position in the international market without a skilled workforce, stressing that increasing the number of skilled workers among overseas Pakistanis was a key mission of her government.
Addressing successful candidates of the “Parwaz Card” programme who have completed their training and are set to leave for overseas employment, the chief minister said a group of 135 trained young men and women would depart abroad on June 28 as skilled workers. Congratulating the participants, cM Punjab said she admired the determination and hard work of young people who shoulder family responsibilities at a young age.
“I salute those youngsters who work hard and support their families. Taking care of sick parents and younger siblings at such a young age is no small responsibility,” she said.
The chief minister noted that many applicants of the programme worked throughout the night while also preparing for their board examinations, describing them as industrious individuals determined to improve their lives through honest work. She said overseas employment would not only provide better earning opportunities but would also expose young Pakistanis to new environments and professional standards.
CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz urged the participants to observe the factors behind the progress of developed nations and learn from their experiences.
Referring to overseas employment trends, she said a large number of Pakistanis travelled to Gulf countries for work, but regretted that more than half of them were unskilled workers. “Until we have a skilled workforce, we will not earn respect or a significant place in the global market,” she said.
The chief minister said the Punjab government was providing training to 500,000 young people in accordance with modern international requirements and market demands. She acknowledged the efforts of Punjab Skills Development Fund Chairman Adnan Cheema and Secretary Nadir Chattha, praising their work on the Parwaz Card initiative.
CM Punjab said Pakistan currently received around $40 billion in remittances, but the proportion of skilled workers among overseas Pakistanis remained comparatively low.
She noted that semi-skilled workers often became victims of fraud and failed to secure dignified employment opportunities abroad.
The Punjab government, she said, was focusing on the construction, transport, logistics, hospitality, health and energy sectors, and providing internationally recognised training in these fields before facilitating overseas placement.
The chief minister added that state-of-the-art training laboratories had been established across Punjab, including South Punjab, to equip workers with modern skills and enable them to compete internationally.
She said government teams had visited foreign countries to study labour market requirements and that training programmes in Punjab were now being designed strictly in accordance with international demand.
Highlighting transparency in the programme, CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz said the selection of Parwaz Card candidates had been carried out entirely on merit and without political influence or favouritism. She observed that many young people possessed the required skills but lacked the financial resources to complete the costly overseas employment process.
“The Punjab government has assumed responsibility for the expenses involved in overseas placement,” she said.
The chief minister further announced that under the Parwaz Card Scheme, eligible youth would receive interest-free loans of up to Rs300,000. She said beneficiaries would not be required to make any repayments during the first three months, after which the loan could be returned through easy instalments.
Addressing the departing workers, CM Punjab reminded them that they would serve as ambassadors of Pakistan abroad. “Never forget that you are Pakistanis. Your work ethic and your dealings with others will represent your country,” she said.
She urged them to uphold Pakistan’s dignity, remain connected with their parents and support them despite the distance.
“Parents are a person’s greatest asset, and obedience and respect for them are essential for success in life,” she added.
Referring to national affairs, the chief minister said Pakistan had achieved a major success through Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos and had surprised the world through its wise diplomacy, which helped play a role in preventing conflict between Iran and the United States.
She said the young people leaving for overseas employment would also contribute to responsible diplomacy by representing Pakistan positively on the international stage.
The chief minister prayed for the success of the participants and expressed hope that they would become a source of pride for Pakistan and the nation at the global level. She also reiterated her commitment to ensuring justice in harassment cases, saying she did not rest until the accused were apprehended.