IT talent. Design: Ibrahim Yahya
KARACHI:
Pakistan is poised to expand its high-skilled human resource exports to Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing technology sector, as the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 projects drive rising demand for IT professionals in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, automation and software development. Experts say strategic bilateral initiatives, targeted skill-development programmes and stronger institutional cooperation could accelerate the shift from traditional blue-collar migration towards knowledge-based employment, potentially boosting remittance inflows while strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
According to official data, as many as 530,256 Pakistani workers settled in various cities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2025, the highest-ever migration figure, compared to 452,562 in the previous year, reflecting a 17% year-on-year increase, or an additional 77,694 workers.
Taimor Butt, an IT and cybersecurity expert based in Saudi Arabia, said KSA is undertaking massive development projects under Vision 2030 and is actively recruiting high-tech professionals and highly skilled workers from around the world, particularly from Muslim countries.
“These projects require professionals in IT fields such as automation, software development, engineering, AI and cybersecurity, which is attracting highly skilled talent globally, especially from Muslim countries and Pakistan,” he added.
Butt noted that many employers in Saudi Arabia offer relocation support, visa sponsorship and competitive salaries, along with benefits such as housing allowances, transportation and health insurance. He pointed out that Pakistanis could be a preferred choice in the cybersecurity domain, given the sensitive and critical nature of the field.
He further said that KSA and Pakistan should invest in human resources and build the capacity of talented professionals in emerging technologies, including quantum computing, who could serve both the defence and private sectors according to the needs of the two countries. Both nations could also establish joint ventures by pooling capital and human resources, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity and AI, he added.
Last year, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed multiple landmark agreements to enhance defence cooperation and strategic ties, including trade development and collaboration in cybersecurity and AI. Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecommunications Group also launched an Artificial Intelligence Hub (AI Hub) in Pakistan to promote knowledge sharing, skill-building and talent development between the two countries. Pakistan has also committed to providing trained professionals to KSA in the semiconductor sector.
Saad Shah, an IT exporter with clients across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, said Pakistani IT firms and fintech operators have expanded their operations in the Kingdom through subsidiaries, relocating staff to offshore Saudi offices and contributing to the overall rise in emigration.
He said Saudi Arabia is a preferred destination for workers and professionals seeking overseas employment due to easier access to holy places, increasingly flexible rules and regulations for expatriates, and smoother social and cultural adjustment owing to the large Pakistani diaspora. State-level cooperation between relevant authorities could further enhance the emigration of Pakistani workers in different fields to meet Saudi Arabia’s growing human resource demand, he added.
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) is taking multiple initiatives to increase worker emigration to Saudi Arabia to one million over the next few years, he said.
Saudi Arabia is significantly expanding economic activity, requiring manpower across sectors including health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism. The Kingdom will also host major global events such as Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, which is expected to further increase demand for skilled professionals.
Dr Noman Said said Pakistan needs to transform its education system with a strong focus on in-demand IT skills to effectively export its human resources to developed countries, including Saudi Arabia.
“Pakistan’s universities produce nearly 25,000 graduates in IT and computer sciences every year, but their skills are not fully aligned with global market standards. They should be trained by universities and software houses on a war-footing basis,” he said.
He stressed that Pakistan should establish dedicated IT universities to broaden the scope of studies in this specialised field, from diploma to PhD level, to meet domestic and international demand for skilled cyber professionals.
Pakistan’s population is growing at an annual rate of over 2%, while domestic job opportunities remain limited, pushing the unemployment rate above 7%. In this context, the export of manpower to different countries emerges as the most viable option to optimally utilise Pakistan’s human talent and attract much-needed foreign remittances.
Remittance inflows maintained steady growth, surging to $19.7 billion in the first half of the current financial year, showing a year-on-year growth of 11%.
