The Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) and the German development agency GIZ have launched a dedicated Advisory Desk at the OEC office in Islamabad to provide guidance and support for Pakistanis seeking study, training, and employment opportunities in Germany and other European Union countries. The initiative aims to promote safe, regular, and ethical migration by offering one-window advisory services, helping individuals make informed decisions about moving abroad.
The newly established desk, part of GIZ’s ZME programme, will provide a range of services including guidance on education and training options like Ausbildung, language qualifications such as CEFR, and pathways for work and mobility. It will also offer information about available scholarships, including those by DAAD, as well as details about visa and residence requirements. All referrals and advice are designed to be standardized and ethical, while strict compliance with data protection regulations in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ensures user privacy and security.
Managing Director of OEC, Naseer Khan Kashani, emphasized that the Advisory Desk is intended to facilitate legitimate and well-informed pathways for Pakistani talent, supporting the broader mission of connecting skilled individuals with demand-driven opportunities abroad in a safe and ethical manner. Steve Seifert of GIZ noted that the partnership aims to enhance legal migration channels, foster skills development, and promote transparent recruitment practices.
The new desk is expected to reduce misinformation about overseas opportunities, building a reliable ecosystem led by the public sector that aligns the skills of Pakistan’s workforce with genuine, transparent possibilities in Germany and the EU. The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to create safe pathways for international mobility and to curb irregular migration.
