Oman considers lifting restrictions on arrival of Pakistani skilled workers

LAHORE: Oman has agreed to consider a proposal by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to ease restrictions on the arrival of skilled workers from Punjab, with Omani officials acknowledging the country’s continued demand for skilled labour.

Maryam Nawaz held a meeting with Oman’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi in Muscat, where the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, livestock, aquaculture and other sectors.

The Omani minister said the demand for skilled workers in Oman remained high and Pakistani youth possessed exceptional skills and talent. He assured the chief minister that skilled workers from Punjab would be welcomed in sectors including construction, aquaculture, agriculture and other fields.

He also said Oman would share information with Punjab about the demand for skilled workers in different sectors.

The chief minister had proposed measures to lift restrictions on the arrival of skilled workers from Punjab in Oman. The Omani minister agreed to consider the proposal, according to a handout issued by the Punjab government on Tuesday.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation between Punjab and Oman in agriculture, fisheries and livestock. The Omani minister also offered assistance in establishing Punjab’s first shrimp centre.

Maryam Nawaz said Punjab was ready to export high-quality meat to Oman at competitive international market rates. She also said measures would be taken to increase livestock exports for milk and meat production.

The chief minister said Punjab had been conducting pilot shrimp-farming projects since last year as part of efforts to promote aquaculture.

پنجاب کو مسقط کے مختلف سیکٹرز میں سکلڈ ورکرز کی ضرورت سے آگاہ کریں گے۔ سعود بن حمود بن احمد الحبیسی کنسٹریکشن، ایکواکلچر، ایگریکلچر اور دیگر شعبوں میں پنجاب کے سکلڈ ورکرز کا خیر مقدم کریں گے۔ وزیر زراعت، ماہی گیری اور آبی وسائل سعود بن حمود بن احمد الحبیسی

— Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) October 6, 2026

Trial shrimp farming is under way in Shah Garh and Ali Wala areas of Muzaffargarh, as well as in Sargodha, she said.

According to the chief minister, Pakistan’s first state-of-the-art aquaculture mall and shrimp diagnostic laboratory will be established at Shah Garh.

She said modern machinery and techniques were being used for aquaculture farming in Punjab, drawing on models from China, Norway, Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries.

The provincial government is planning shrimp farming across 30,000 acres in Punjab, including Bahawalpur, she said, adding that the province would welcome cooperation from Oman to further develop the sector.

Maryam Nawaz also said she would request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to facilitate the export of live livestock from Punjab to Oman.

The chief minister said thousands of young people in Punjab had already received training under skills-development programmes designed according to domestic and international market requirements.

“Pakistan’s 65 per cent youth is a valuable asset, and they are being equipped with skills through modern training programmes,” she said.

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She added that millions of young people in Punjab were being trained in different sectors to meet the requirements of local and international job markets.