Some 12,000 Pakistanis are currently facing uncertainty regarding their future due to bankruptcy of certain Saudi companies owing to decline in oil prices and crisis pertaining to the war in Yemen. 400 Pakistanis are already living in camps after the company they were employed by halted work and blocked the release of salaries. They are currently being provided food and shelter under the supervision of the Pakistani embassy and local authorities, but have faced shortages in some instances. Moreover, their residence permits have also been taken away, and they are being denied their rights as employees of private corporate groups.
There are also reports that some labourers committed suicide over the past few days due to non-payment of their salaries for a few months. This is truly a heart-wrenching situation for the Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia, which is the largest in the world in the oil-rich kingdom. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Prime Minister’s Office has recently taken some steps to diffuse the crisis by coordinating with senior Saudi officials such as the foreign minister and minister for manpower. Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Manzoor ul Haq, is personally monitoring the situation and has also visited the labour camps.
Furthermore, MOFA spokesperson, Nafees Zakaria, has revealed that over 8,000 Pakistani labourers have been contacted to assess the gravity of the situation. This is indeed a positive development on part of the diplomatic corps. However, additional measures are required for the safety of these Pakistanis who are largely treated as third class citizens by Saudi authorities. They are often mistreated and even made to work and live in abysmal conditions. Those who try to raise their voice against injustice are arrested due to state’s non-democratic norms. Although Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced 500 million rupees — 50,000 rupees per person — for relief purposes, this is certainly inadequate for taking care of their problems beyond a short-term point.
Overseas Pakistanis constitute the backbone of state remittances, and government must ensure that they are treated well by a host country’s authorities. Former prime mnister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and the business tycoon, Agha Hasan Abedi, were the pioneers of Pakistan’s overseas labour policies in the 1970s, which led to transformation of certain countries of the Gulf into great economic hubs. Leaders such as King Faisal of Saudi Arabia used to welcome Pakistanis with open arms, and ensured their dignified treatment unlike what is happening to Pakistanis now. Hence, there is a dire need to revisit the state’s current policy on overseas Pakistanis, in addition to resolving the matter of stranded Pakistanis in the kingdom. Government must take urgent steps for the reemployment of the affected labourers in other companies so that they can make a dignified living for themselves and their families. If this is not possible then a high level delegation must be sent to Riyadh for ensuring rights of the local diaspora, and perhaps make arrangements for a dignified return to Pakistan. Indian Ministry of External Affairs is already monitoring the plight of stranded Indians in an efficient manner with senior level delegations lobbying with Saudi authorities. In this spirit the same action is expected from the Pakistani side for the protection of its own citizens in Saudi Arabia.
A personal touch in the time of need becomes a healing hand, and the poor Pakistanis stuck in Saudi Arabia need to know that government and people of Pakistan stand by them in their hour of need. *