Parwaaz Card Initiative: Punjab steps up overseas employment support

The Punjab government has stepped up overseas employment support through the collaboration of the Punjab Skills Development Fund and the Migrant Resource Centre Pakistan. Under the agreement, PSDF and MRC will build a coordinated system aimed at promoting safe, legal, and well-informed overseas migration for trainees under the Parwaaz Card initiative, part of the Chief Minister Punjab’s Hunarmand Naujawan programme. The MRC will conduct pre-departure counselling sessions, awareness workshops, and one-on-one guidance for aspiring migrant workers. These sessions will cover key areas such as migrant rights, required documentation, visa procedures, and the risks associated with irregular migration. The PSDF will, in turn, identify and prepare skilled candidates for overseas job placements and support access to relevant training and certification programmes where needed. The partnership is designed to close a long-standing gap in Pakistan’s labour migration system by ensuring that workers heading abroad are not only technically trained but also fully informed about safe migration channels, legal protections, and available support services. Officials say this integrated approach will help improve safety and outcomes for overseas workers while strengthening institutional coordination. PSDF Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Khan said the initiative would help ensure that beneficiaries move into international employment with greater confidence and security through combined skills development and migration counselling. MRC Senior Counsellor Shazia Rafiq added that the collaboration reflects an effective model of cooperation between government, civil society, and development institutions to embed migration safety within skills training frameworks. The two organisations will continue working together to meet growing international demand for skilled Pakistani workers, with the broader goal of improving sustainable employment outcomes and supporting Punjab’s vision of becoming a hub