Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated on Wednesday that Pakistan cannot secure a respectable position in the international market without a skilled workforce. She emphasized that increasing the number of skilled overseas workers is among her government’s top priorities.
Addressing successful candidates of the “Parwaz Card” programme who completed their training and are set to leave for overseas employment, she announced that a group of 135 trained young men and women would depart abroad on June 28 as skilled workers.
Government’s Focus on Skill Development
Congratulating the participants, the chief minister paid tribute to young people who work hard to support their families while pursuing education and professional training. She said overseas employment would not only provide better earning opportunities but would also expose Pakistani youth to modern work environments and international professional standards.
CM Maryam Nawaz urged the participants to learn from the progress of developed countries and contribute positively to Pakistan’s image abroad. She noted that while a large number of Pakistanis travel overseas for employment, a significant proportion remain unskilled workers. “Until we have a skilled workforce, we will not earn respect or a significant place in the global market,” she said.
Parwaz Card Initiative and Training Programs
The CM said the Punjab government is providing internationally relevant training to 500,000 young people in accordance with modern market requirements. She appreciated the efforts of Punjab Skills Development Fund Chairman Adnan Cheema and Secretary Nadir Chattha for successfully implementing the Parwaz Card initiative.
She said Pakistan receives around $40 billion in remittances annually, but the ratio of skilled workers among overseas Pakistanis remains comparatively low. The Punjab government, she added, is focusing on internationally recognized training in sectors including construction, transport, logistics, hospitality, health, and energy before facilitating overseas placement.
Modern Training Labs and Transparency
CM Maryam Nawaz said modern training laboratories have been established across Punjab, including South Punjab, while government teams have visited foreign countries to study labour market requirements and align local training programmes with international demand. Highlighting transparency, she said the selection of Parwaz Card beneficiaries had been carried out strictly on merit without political influence or favouritism.
She added that many skilled young people lacked the financial means to complete the overseas employment process, and therefore the Punjab government had assumed responsibility for related expenses.
Interest-Free Loans and Advice to Departing Workers
The CM announced that eligible youth under the Parwaz Card Scheme would also receive interest-free loans of up to Rs300,000, with no repayment required during the first three months and easy instalments thereafter. Addressing the departing workers, she urged them to remember that they would represent Pakistan abroad. “Never forget that you are Pakistanis. Your work ethic and conduct will reflect your country,” she said, advising them to remain connected with and supportive of their parents.
Referring to national affairs, the chief minister said Pakistan had demonstrated strength through Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos and had earned international recognition through prudent diplomacy. She expressed confidence that the young workers would also contribute positively to Pakistan’s image and prayed for their success in their future careers abroad.
Commitment to Justice in Harassment Cases
The CM also reiterated her commitment to ensuring justice in harassment cases, saying that strict action would continue against those involved in such offences. The Punjab Assembly also approved Rs270.5 billion demands for grants as the government defended its budget.
