KARACHI: Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain has said that overseas Pakistanis are the backbone of the country’s economy and the government is undertaking comprehensive reforms to address their issues, promote skills development, and create better employment opportunities. Speaking at a meeting of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), he said that key institutions, including the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), are being digitalised to facilitate industrialists rather than harass them, and to create a more business-friendly environment for taxpayers. Chaudhry Salik Hussain said that an initial briefing on EOBI revealed that the institution has the potential to become self-sustaining due to the availability of substantial funds. He assured industrialists that they would no longer face physical notices or harassment, as systems is being fully digitalised. He added that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) must function not merely as a revenue-collection body but as a facilitation and “marketing” institution to expand the tax base. The minister further stated that the government aims to provide overseas employment opportunities to 800,000 individuals this year, noting a significant increase in demand for Pakistani labour across GCC countries and other regions. He said that Pakistan is launching soft-skills training programmes in collaboration with Korea and Japan. He also announced that the minimum age for women seeking overseas employment has been reduced from 35 to 25 years, enabling them to work longer, earn more, and contribute higher remittances. According to him, a Pakistani worker employed in Korea is currently remitting an average of USD1,800 per month to Pakistan. Earlier, Acting President KATI Zahid Hamid said that more than nine million Pakistanis are currently living abroad and sending approximately USD38 billion in remittances annually. He described these inflows as critical to Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, current account stability, and overall economic resilience. Zahid Hamid said overseas Pakistanis are the country’s true ambassadors and stressed that by promoting certification and skills development, Pakistan could earn billions of dollars in additional foreign exchange. He noted that many overseas Pakistanis are confined to low-skilled jobs and emphasised the need for public-private partnerships to enhance skills and capabilities, enabling access to better employment and higher incomes. Acting Patron-in-Chief KATI Zubair Chhaya said that KATI plays a significant role in national development, with exports worth USD3 billion originating from the Korangi industrial area alone. He said that new opportunities have emerged for Pakistan following recent developments, and the world is now closely watching the country. Highlighting challenges faced by industrialists, Zubair Chhaya said that repeated audit notices and the rigid attitude of the FBR have eroded business confidence. He stressed that industrialists contributing significantly to national growth must be facilitated rather than discouraged. He added that Pakistan’s energy and tax costs are higher than those of regional competitors, hindering the establishment of new industries. He also called for structured pre-departure training programmes for overseas workers and resolution of issues such as mobile SIM registration. He further stated that public-private partnerships could help resolve workforce-related challenges while accelerating industrial growth, adding that KATI is fully prepared to work with the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis on training initiatives and policy recommendations. Former KATI President Masood Naqi, speaking from an industrial perspective, said that no other industrial area in Pakistan matches Korangi in terms of revenue generation and employment. He urged the federal minister to visit Korangi with his team to observe how industrialists are providing internationally competitive training to their workforce. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026