KUALA LUMPUR - Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain has stressed the importance of pre-departure training and soft skills for citizens seeking employment abroad, during a visit to the Pakistani consulate in Dubai.

In a statement, the Press Information Department (PID) said the minister met consulate officials on Monday to discuss issues related to the welfare and facilitation of Pakistani nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as reported by Arab News.

“He particularly emphasized the importance of pre-departure training and the imparting of soft skills to better prepare Pakistani workers for overseas job markets.

“He noted that the ministry is facilitating the establishment of credible and reputable training institutions to provide skills training in sectors with high employability,” the PID said.

The UAE is home to more than 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, making it one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities in the world.

They contribute billions of dollars annually in remittances, with the Gulf state ranking as Pakistan’s second-largest source of remittance inflows after Saudi Arabia.

During his visit, Hussain toured various sections of the consulate and reviewed services including passport issuance, national identity cards, community welfare and public facilitation programmes.

He also assessed the efficiency of consular operations and their role in supporting Pakistanis living and working in the UAE.

Pakistan and the UAE maintain close political and economic ties, with Abu Dhabi having provided financial support to Islamabad through deposits, oil facilities and investment commitments during periods of economic strain.

The UAE is also Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major destination for exports, particularly in food, textiles and construction services.