PESHAWAR: In an unprecedented move, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP Assembly member Malik Liaquat Ali Khan delivered the first-ever Arabic speech in the provincial legislature, directly appealing to Arab rulers to halt the systemic exploitation of Pakistani workers seeking employment in Gulf nations. As Special Assistant to the Chief Minister, Khan spotlighted how GCC-mandated medical centers extort aspirants with inflated fees (up to Rs. 9,000 per test), issue deliberately inaccurate reports, and force workers into nightlong queues—only to invalidate results upon arrival in Gulf countries.
Khan condemned these facilities as “mafias” operating with impunity, leaving workers financially ruined and humiliated. He demanded Pakistan’s federal government urgently negotiate with Gulf states to enforce transparency and fair practices, warning that silence perpetuates “economic violence” against vulnerable laborers. His Arabic address aimed to bypass diplomatic formalities, urging Arab leaders to intervene directly.
