ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ombudsman has taken notice of the unpaid Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia and has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately establish a special cell in the Pakistan’s Embassy in Riyadh to resolve the issue.
Senior Adviser and Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis to Federal Ombudsman Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar, on the instructions of Federal Ombudsman M Salman Faroqui, took notice of a written complaint from the Pakistani workers living in Saudi Arabia. Khokhar issued a notice of hearing to the foreign office for August 15 with the directive to the secretary foreign affairs to notify establishment of the special cell in Pakistan’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia before the next hearing.
The complainants claimed that there are hundreds and thousands of overseas Pakistanis workers, who have not gotten paid for months now by different Saudi companies. The complainants stated that they were continuously visiting Saudi labour court, but there was no progress. They added that apart from the basic needs of life, including clean drinking water, they were facing many other problems as well. First the companies haven’t paid them for last 16 months. Secondly the companies are not renewing their Iqamas , due to which they are constantly getting in trouble with police and other authorities. Lastly companies are not giving them any insurance or medical facilities; hence they cannot afford or get treatment in hospitals. “It is very difficult to manage as many patients suffering from diseases such as high blood pressure, sugar along with some dengue cases requires proper care and cure,” the complaint said.
