SFD CEO Highlights Opportunities for Pakistani Workforce in Saudi Arabia

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a meeting with CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad at the Finance Division today.  Al-Marshad lauded the progress Pakistan has made in terms of macroeconomic stability and growth, which has opened up numerous multi-purpose investment opportunities across various sectors. He particularly noted the potential for further collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, inviting investors from the Kingdom to explore these emerging opportunities.  He also acknowledged the valuable contributions of Pakistanis in the development of Saudi Arabia, recognizing them as the largest foreign workforce in the Kingdom. He expressed Saudi Arabia’s need for a skilled workforce to meet the demands of its growing market. To address this, he proposed a partnership with relevant government ministries and departments in Pakistan to offer training programs for young Pakistanis in modern and relevant skill sets to meet the labor market demands in Saudi Arabia.  During the meeting, Aurangzeb shared updates on Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability, highlighting improvements in key economic indicators. He expressed his gratitude for the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the importance of Saudi Arabia’s continued support in funding and investment, which has significantly contributed to Pakistan’s economic growth.  Aurangzeb recalled his recent meeting with Saudi Minister of Finance in Davos and the minister extending an invitation to Pakistan to attend the first edition of the high-level annual conference on challenges and opportunities facing emerging market economies, being jointly organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia.   Aurangzeb expressed his anticipation for the conference, noting the valuable insights he hoped to gain from the event and the leadership of Saudi Arabia in implementing Vision 2030.