ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 (WNP): In a move aimed at strengthening bilateral labour cooperation, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Takhtaev, on Tuesday agreed to establish a joint working group to facilitate employment opportunities for Pakistani workers in Uzbekistan.

The development came during a high-level meeting held in Islamabad, where both sides exchanged views on tapping Uzbekistan’s emerging labor market for skilled Pakistani professionals. The working group will explore and streamline avenues for Pakistani workforce placement across multiple sectors.

Ambassador Takhtaev highlighted the deep-rooted historical, religious, and cultural ties between the two countries, adding that immense potential exists for collaboration in fields such as information technology, healthcare, agriculture, and labor. “Through joint initiatives, we can not only boost regional economic prosperity but also generate employment for both nations,” he said.

Minister Salik Hussain noted Pakistan’s recent success in pilot labor export programs with South Korea and Japan, describing them as models worth replicating. “We are keen to initiate a similar pilot project with Uzbekistan to expand employment for our skilled workforce,” he said.

He further shared that over 12 million Pakistanis are currently working abroad, contributing significantly to the national economy. “In the fiscal year 2025 alone, overseas Pakistanis remitted a record $38.8 billion. Our target is to increase this to $50 billion in the next two to three years,” the minister added.

The proposed joint working group is expected to meet in the coming months to finalize mechanisms for labor export, skill development, and mutual recognition of qualifications.