Saudi Arabia — Pakistan’s long-standing ally — is once again becoming a land of opportunity for thousands of Pakistanis seeking education, employment, and professional growth. Under its ambitious Vision 2030, the Kingdom has simplified visa procedures, making it significantly easier for Pakistani citizens to secure work permits, especially for skilled labor and professional roles.

Recently, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, revealed during an interview with V News that Saudi Arabia currently requires 1.2 million workers from Pakistan across multiple sectors. These include white-collar, grey-collar, and blue-collar categories — offering a wide range of employment opportunities.

Growing demand across all job categories

White-collar jobs usually involve office-based roles such as doctors, accountants, managers, and software engineers. Blue-collar jobs, on the other hand, include skilled trades like electricians, mechanics, drivers, and construction workers. Meanwhile, grey-collar jobs bridge the gap between the two — combining technical expertise with customer service or administrative tasks — such as IT technicians, healthcare assistants, and security personnel.

This massive demand for Pakistani professionals highlights how Saudi jobs for Pakistanis are expanding faster than ever before.

Skills verification program boosts opportunities

A major game-changer behind this growth is the Skills Verification Program (SVP) — a joint initiative between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. According to the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Pakistan became the first country to sign this agreement, effective since July 1, 2021.

The SVP aims to regulate Saudi Arabia’s labor market and ensure that only qualified and certified workers enter the Kingdom. Before traveling, all skilled workers from Pakistan must now verify their expertise through Takamul SVP, Saudi Arabia’s skill assessment authority.

NAVTTC plays a key role in implementing this initiative, managing over 40 registered testing centers across Pakistan that assess workers in more than 80 trades. So far, over 273,000 candidates have been evaluated, with around 80% passing the assessment.

The numbers are impressive — only 8 assessments were conducted in 2022, compared to 17,927 in 2023, 25,140 in 2024, and a staggering 273,709 in 2025. The sharp increase clearly reflects how popular and effective this program has become.

Fast, transparent certification process

The SVP certification process is quick, affordable, and transparent — usually completed within just four days. Applicants simply create a profile on the SVP International Portal, book their test date, pay $50 online, and appear for assessment. Once the test results are uploaded, certificates are issued within 24 hours.

Sectors offering employment

Under this initiative, Pakistani workers can apply for Saudi jobs for Pakistanis in over 80 different professions, including:

• Electricians, plumbers, welders, HVAC mechanics, auto electricians, and mechanics

• Construction and building technicians, carpenters, painters, and tile fixers

• Chefs, bakers, butchers, barbers, tailors, and fast-food makers

• Drivers (car, taxi, bus, and truck), cleaners, warehouse workers, and kitchen helpers

• Power line operators, gardeners, road maintenance workers, and laundry specialists

To meet the rising demand, NAVTTC plans to expand its network of testing centers and add more trades based on Takamul SVP recommendations. Over 900 certified assessors are already available nationwide to support this effort.

This initiative not only opens the door for countless Pakistanis to find employment abroad but also strengthens Pakistan’s economy by increasing foreign remittances. The program supports the government’s broader vision of promoting skill development, reducing unemployment, and enhancing Pakistan’s global workforce reputation.