The federal government plans to send 800,000 Pakistanis abroad for employment in 2026, marking an increase from the roughly 740,000 workers placed overseas last year, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain said on Thursday.

Speaking during a meeting with members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), the minister said demand for Pakistani workers continues to grow, particularly in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and several other international markets.

He said the government is introducing soft-skills training programs in collaboration with Korea and Japan to improve the global competitiveness of Pakistan’s workforce and align skills with international labor market needs.

The minister also announced a major policy change for women seeking overseas employment, stating that the minimum age requirement has been reduced from 35 to 25 years, a move aimed at expanding employment opportunities for female workers.

Highlighting the economic impact of skilled migration, Chaudhry Salik Hussain said a Pakistani worker employed in Korea remits an average of $1,800 per month, underlining the importance of overseas employment in strengthening foreign exchange inflows.

He added that the government is implementing wide-ranging reforms to address issues faced by overseas Pakistanis, promote skills development, and ensure safer and more structured employment opportunities abroad.