Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain has called for greater access to European labour markets for Pakistani skilled and semi-skilled workers.

He made the remarks during a meeting with International Centre for Migration Policy Development Director General Ms. Susanne Raab in Islamabad.

Chaudhry Salik Hussain said Pakistan possesses a large pool of skilled workers who could help meet labour shortages in European countries if appropriate mechanisms were developed to connect them with overseas employment opportunities.

He called for pilot mobility programmes, joint training initiatives and Centres of Excellence under the EU-Pakistan Talent Partnership to create more structured employment opportunities for Pakistani workers.

Susanne Raab welcomed Pakistan's proposals for safe, orderly and legal migration, skills development and demand-driven labour mobility.

She expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with the Government of Pakistan and work jointly on initiatives aimed at workforce development and promoting legal migration.