In April 2019, Saudi Arabia announced that they were lifting their eight year travel ban on Pakistani nationals to the kingdom. This announcement signified a great improvement in the strained relations between the two countries and acted as a huge boost for millions of Pakistani citizens attempting to seek religious services or gain employment in the eastern country. Despite the eagerness of people to travel, Saudi Arabia instead made it obligatory for Pakistan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in regards to facing the illegal immigration of citizens from one country to the other. To that end, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi signed this agreement with Saudi officials to lift the travel ban. This was a major step forward, as it is predicted to bring forth a great deal of economic development for both countries.
The fact that the ban was imposed in the first place could perhaps be attributed to Saudi Arabia’s eagerness to take a hardline stance in regards to immigration policy. All non-citizens seeking to enter the country must comply with various visa and labor laws to obtain entry. This does not only apply to Pakistanis, but to all foreign nationals. Yet many Pakistanis have faced tough regulations due to the current situation between the two countries, making it difficult for them to continue their employment within the country. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is widely known to be home to a large number of Pakistanis working in different sectors which the country deem to be a part of the reinforcing economic drive.
Economic experts believe that the lifting of the travel ban will reinvigorate the bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. This move will be beneficial to many, as it will give Pakistanis greater employment opportunities and an easier access to services in the Saudi kingdom. Moreover, it can be seen as an attempt to improve the bilateral security outlook, with Saudi Arabia believing that it can make utilization of the security forces of Pakistan alongside its own forces in order to discourage any activity considered to be unlawful or a threat to the country’s safety. Moving forward, Saudi Arabia is expected to remain a key ally to Pakistan, as a result of the cross-border trade, the presence of Pakistani pilgrims in the kingdom, and the work opportunities it provides to Pakistanis.
Significance Of This Move
The lift of the travel ban can be defined as being greatly significant since it unlocks a door with numerous possibilities for Pakistan. Not only will this strengthen the economy of the developing country, but it will also act as a catalyst in strengthening the relationship between the two countries. The key effect this has on Pakistan is the fact that more Pakistanis can now be employed in the kingdom and as a result, withdraw from the poverty line back into a more experienced way of life. With this, a better infrastructure can be built within the country, such as efficient roads and railways, as well as better healthcare and education systems.
According to the Chief of the National Accounts Statistics, Khalid Saleem, the lifting of the travel ban is believed to have a sizable effect on the economic performance of Pakistan, with about 10 to 13 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) expected to be contributed from remittances sent by Pakistanis living abroad. In addition to that, the travel ban will also effectively open more doors for educational and religious purposes in both the countries. Pakistanis will now have easier access to receive Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages as a visitor from Saudi Arabia.
The unemployed population in Pakistan is overwhelming, hence the move to lift the travel ban can be seen as attempt taken by Saudi Arabia to help the economy of Pakistan to an extent. This decision taken by both the governments has been greatly applauded by the people living in the respective countries, and the Pakistani government is keen to further the relationship between the two countries.
Perspectives from Experts
This move was widely praised by Pakistani and Saudi officials, however the perspectives of experts observing the situation have shown to be more balanced. Economists in Pakistan value the trade relationship between the two countries, as they can witness the amount of investments Saudi Arabia has made in recent years in order to promote economic growth and stability. However, there are also trade experts who believe that the reliance on foreign investments only exposes Pakistan’s economy to external shocks. In the medium-term, experts believe that the benefits are likely to be minor as the real effect of the lifting of the travel ban will be felt in the long-term.
According to Fazal Elahi, a professor of finance and economics at NUST University: “The long-term gains of the travel ban will be far more significant than the short-term gains, as it will fill the job market with a greater number of skilled and semi-skilled workers. This will be beneficial for both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, the fact that the former will be able to fill the skills shortage in the latter and contribute to its economic stability and development.”
On the other hand, critics of the move believe that increase in workers from Pakistan might lead to an oversupply of workers, thus making it more difficult for Pakistani workers to obtain employment in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it could lead to a lower wage rate due to the high number of workers who could be competing for a single job.
Rising Role of Labour Migration
The move to lift the travel ban opens the door to a realm of possibilities in the form of increased employment opportunities for Pakistanis abroad. Consequently, this unanticipated decision has served to bring forward greater stability and balance to the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Labour migration in Pakistan is continuously gaining traction, with an ever-increasing number of workers emigrating from the country to work abroad. It can be seen as a way of escaping poverty and the lack of opportunities at home, with Pakistan forming a high segment of the Labour export market.
In this regard, the Federal Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development reported that in the year 2018-19, a total of 2.81 million Pakistani migrant workers travelled abroad for employment. This shows a large influx of people leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad. According to recent reports, the United Arab Emirates accounted for the highest number of Pakistani workers, with 1,162,637 individuals travelling to the UAE in 2018-19.
The government of Pakistan has also recognised the significance of this move and has taken measures by developing a more efficient and streamlined system in the form of the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment. This system ensures that Pakistani citizens travelling abroad are given due protection and are aided in their right to secure a legal job. The government of Saudi Arabia has also provided valuable assistance and support in providing Pakistani migrants with secure and respectful jobs.
Improved Cultural Relations
The lifting of the travel ban has been instrumental in bettering the cultural relations between the two countries. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have both always held the Islamic sense of brotherhood in high regard and this move has served to reinforce that. The two countries have forged a closer relationship by participating in various interfaith dialogues and exchanging cultural knowledge and practices. The exchanges have created a sense of understanding between the people of both the countries, with an increased number of people from both countries travelling to each other’s country for educational and cultural exchange programmes.
There have been a number events and festivals organised by both countries in order to celebrate the relationship, including festivals such as the Jeddah International festival where participants from Pakistan are invited to participate in activities such as theatrical performances, painting, poetry, music and other cultural events. These kinds of events serve to strengthen the relationship and bring the Pakistani and Saudi communities closer together.
The lifting of the travel ban has also helped in relieving the pressure on the academic community of both countries. That is, the universities of both countries are now able to have effective academic exchanges with each other. Important conferences and workshops are now more easily attainable as citizens of both the countries are given the opportunity to attend these.
Impact On Diplomatic Ties
The move to lift the travel ban is seen as a major opportunity for both countries to have better diplomatic relations. This is important as closer ties with foreign countries come with a host of opportunities, including enhanced trade and exchange of investment, money, technology, knowledge and better security. It is important to note here that Saudi Arabia is an important regional power and is Pakistan’s biggest trading partner in the Middle East. Through enhanced diplomatic ties, Pakistan can expect better regional and foreign relations with the rest of the Middle East.
The government of Pakistan should consider this as an opportunity and use it to expand the reach of the country even further. The end objective here should be to build strong economic ties with Saudi Arabia so that both countries can benefit from this move. The positive sentiments between the two countries following the release of the travel ban should be taken advantage of in the best possible way.
Furthermore, the move has also been beneficial for the Pakistani military and security forces. Pakistan has been able to take the assistance of the Saudi security forces to chart out a stronger defence for its own military. This cooperation has allowed both countries to share intelligence and operational support in order to strengthen their diplomatic ties further.
Brexit Impact
The move of lifting Saudi Arabia’s travel ban on Pakistan could also serve as a means for Pakistanis to circumvent the effects of Brexit, in order to better avail themselves of employment opportunities in the United Kingdom. Since the United Kingdom is now leaving the European Union, and actively seeking to reduce net migration, it is expected from Pakistan to face great difficulty in procuring employment in the country. With that being said, the lifting of the travel ban could open the opportunities to individuals from Pakistan seeking employment in EU countries adjacent to the United Kingdom.
However, the risk of this could be that the foreign nationals employed in the kingdom would be likely to travel to the United Kingdom in search of better employment prospects with the same ease as before, possibly creating an overflow of workers. Yet this would be a risk worth taking since it would allow Pakistani citizens to employ their skills and expertise across various industries, thus enriching the experience of both the countries.
Conclusion and Outlook
The move to lift the travel ban to Saudi Arabia is a major step forward which will hope to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Aside from economics, this move will also open the door to better cultural understanding between the two people, as well as improved diplomatic ties. The long-term effects are already visible, with many individuals celebrating the prospects of a better life abroad. Although there are risks associated with this move, if handled properly, the lift of the ban can serve as a great opportunity for both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
