FREQUENT complaints are heard from Pakistani workers exploring employment abroad that their counterparts from elsewhere, like, say, India and Bangladesh, end up getting more and better opportunities than is the case with those from Pakistan, especially in the Gulf and Middle East region. There is no dearth of those who want to move out every time they see an opportunity. They standinlong queuesforendlesshours, as can be seen in the image above from Rawalpindi. But hardly a few of them get their hands on the coveted target.

I had the opportunity to visit Dhaka several times between 2006 and 2008 regarding a projectfor the Bangladesh Ministry of Communication. On landing and while leaving the airport, I often saw orderly lines of young men in identical attire queuing up for departure to foreign destinations.

Once I asked the hosts about it, and was informed that they were individuals who had been landed overseas employment after having spent time under a government project that trained them in their selected trades. They were given relevant certificates, and jobs were explored in various destinations for them.

Moreover, during the project, they were groomed to work abroad, including emphasis on work ethics and moral values.

It was a comprehensive plan with a focussed target.

In contrast, we have no such plan.

Besides, our standard of education is far below than that of the countries in the region.

We will continue to lose opportunities abroad for our job seekers if we maintain astatus quointhisregard.

Personally, I know a person who holds a master`s degree in English Literaturefrom an extremely well-reputed publicsector university. Unfortunately, the individual is utterly unable to have a simple conversation in English, and makes silly mist akes in everyday writing tasks.

Clearly, the rote system is responsible for such shortcomings for which the students alone cannot be blamed.

We need to get our act together if we are serious about generating overseas employment opportunities for the young among us. The remedy lies in appointing the very best in policymaking and implementation.

Aleem M. Ahmad Lahore