ISLAMABAD (Report by Shakila Jalil): Around 131,817 foreign jobs remain available out of a total 275,669 opportunities, with 143,854 already filled, according to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), an attached department of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOP&HRD).
An official source told APP that approximately 337,000 Pakistanis proceeded abroad for employment between January 1 and June 30 this year, as per data from relevant departments. The number of individuals seeking foreign jobs is steadily rising due to the government’s productive policies, which are creating new openings for both skilled and unskilled workers.
Since the establishment of the Bureau in 1971, over 10 million emigrants have been provided overseas employment through official registration. The year 2015 marked the highest figure, with 946,571 Pakistanis securing jobs abroad.
Overseas employment plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s economy, contributing significantly to debt servicing, import bills, poverty alleviation, development projects, and overall economic activity. The Bureau, as a regulatory body, manages and supervises the emigration process carried out by Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) in the private sector, along with facilitating individuals who arrange jobs abroad through personal efforts or connections.
The Bureau’s responsibilities include collecting, compiling, and maintaining detailed emigration data since 1971, serving as a key resource for planning and policy-making by the Economic Division and other government entities. Under the Emigration Ordinance of 1979, the Bureau regulates and promotes overseas employment, protects emigrants’ welfare, and advises the federal government on relevant policies.
Other functions include monitoring OEPs through seven Protectorates of Emigrants offices, issuing OEP licenses, providing pre-departure briefings, ensuring mandatory insurance coverage for workers abroad, and signing Memorandums of Understanding with foreign countries to expand manpower export. It also manages the State Life Emigrants Insurance Fund (SLEIF) to safeguard workers’ interests.
