Saudi Arabia to Announce 400,000 Jobs for Pakistanis

Pakistan is preparing to train and deploy up to 400,000 workers for projects linked to the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

According to official documents, workforce planning is being aligned with expected demand from FIFA World Cup-related development in Saudi Arabia, where Pakistani workers are likely to be needed across infrastructure, aviation, tourism, construction and allied service sectors between 2026 and 2034.

The plan is part of Pakistan’s wider push to expand overseas employment and improve the skill profile of its labor force for international markets. Officials are targeting the training and deployment of around 300,000 to 400,000 workers to meet the anticipated requirements of Saudi projects in the run-up to the tournament.

The documents show that overseas employment remains a central pillar of Pakistan’s labor strategy. During July-March FY2025-26, around 215,719 workers received soft-skills training aimed at improving their adaptability, productivity and global employability.

In 2025 alone, the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment registered 762,499 workers for overseas jobs. Since 1972, more than 15 million Pakistanis have gone abroad for employment through official channels in over 50 countries.

The Gulf continues to dominate that trend, with more than 96 percent of officially documented Pakistani workers heading to GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Saudi Arabia remained the top destination for Pakistani workers in 2025, receiving 530,256 workers, or nearly 70 percent of all overseas employment registrations during the year. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program has already created rising demand in infrastructure, construction and services, and that demand is expected to grow further as World Cup-linked activity picks up.

At the same time, Pakistan is also trying to improve how workers are prepared and sent abroad. Officials are digitizing parts of the emigration process and expanding training and recruitment systems to make overseas hiring more transparent and efficient.

The broader goal is to place Pakistan in a stronger position to benefit from upcoming labor demand in Saudi Arabia while creating better-paid and higher-skilled employment opportunities for its workforce.