PM Nawaz asks Saudi govt to ensure salary dues paid to 700 stranded Pakistani workers

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday took notice of Pakistanis suffering in Saudi Arabia and ordered the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh to resolve their issues as soon as possible.

The prime minister further directed the Foreign Office to ensure provision of all necessary support to Pakistani workers.

PM Nawaz also requested the Saudi government to pay the workers their dues to end their plight.

After the PM’s notice, the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh has set up 'Special Facilitation Centre' to provide welfare to Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, who are distressed and suffering from financial problems.

The embassy will also facilitate the Pakistani workforce by compiling claims for their dues and salaries.

The Pakistani workers will be facilitated in the transfer of work permits for those who have decided to leave their company and the embassy will also facilitate workers to return to their homeland, if they opt to do so.

It has been over 6 months since a factory stopped paying migrant workers their salaries, extended their ‘akama’, and refused giving them medical aid. Recently, the mess also stopped providing them food. Around 700 Pakistanis are stranded in Riyadh under these conditions.