LAHORE: Punjab’s efforts to expand overseas employment opportunities through direct engagement with international employers have resulted in the selection of 218 candidates for jobs in Saudi Arabia, marking the first large scale recruitment exercise following the provincial government’s recent official engagements in the Kingdom.
The recruitment was conducted in Lahore by representatives of the Middle East based Americana Group in collaboration with Safwa HR for positions of Team Members with one of the region’s leading international food service chains. The selected candidates are expected to leave for Saudi Arabia after completing immigration formalities, medical examinations and employer documentation.
According to official figures, the successful candidates represent a broad cross-section of Punjab, reflecting the provincial government’s objective of extending overseas employment opportunities beyond major urban centres. Lahore accounted for the highest number of selections with 82 candidates, followed by Gujranwala (14), Sheikhupura (12), Faisalabad (10), Kasur (9), Sargodha (8), Multan and Vehari (7 each), Muzaffargarh and Toba Tek Singh (6 each), Narowal (5), Bahawalnagar, Chakwal, Jhang and Sialkot (4 each), Gujrat, Hafizabad, Okara and Sahiwal (3 each), Dera Ghazi Khan, Ghizer (GB), Khanewal, Khushab, Muzaffarabad, Nankana Sahib, Pakpattan and Rahim Yar Khan (2 each), while Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Chiniot, Chitral, Islamabad, Jhelum, Karachi and Mandi Bahauddin contributed one selected candidate each.
Significantly, the recruitment exercise also accommodated candidates from outside Punjab, including Islamabad, Karachi, Chitral, Ghizer and Muzaffarabad. Officials said that although the overseas employment initiative had been developed and facilitated by the Punjab government, deserving applicants from other parts of the country were also considered, underscoring a broader national objective of promoting Pakistani skilled manpower in international labour markets rather than limiting opportunities on provincial lines.
Officials said the recruitment followed discussions held during the Punjab government’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at strengthening cooperation in manpower export, skills development and labour market linkages. They described the exercise as the first outcome of those engagements, adding that discussions were underway with additional employers to facilitate further recruitment from the province.
The latest placements form part of the Punjab Skills Development Fund’s (PSDF) broader strategy to connect demand-driven skills training with international employment opportunities. Over the past several years, the organisation has increasingly aligned its technical and vocational training programmes with the requirements of overseas employers, particularly in Gulf countries where demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers continues to expand.
The collaboration with Americana Group is part of this wider strategy. The multinational food service company, which operates several globally recognised restaurant brands across the Middle East and North Africa, has previously partnered with PSDF to recruit trained workers from Punjab for its operations in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
