Jobs in Pakistan?

[offstump]

I've been thinking a lot about possibly moving to Pakistan and settling down, working there and living out the rest of my life. I wasn't born in Pakistan, but hold citizenship and my wife was born and raised there. I visit regularly so there is no risk of culture shock or anything like that.

How does a person living in North America begin his or her job search? What is the economy like apart from what we read in the news? Many of my relatives seem to have well paying jobs in multinational companies and there is employment, maybe not as readily available as one would find in western countries but nonetheless there are jobs.

Am I at a disadvantage if I am not living in Pakistan? Are foreign educated "overseas" Pakistanis more or less desireable candidates for jobs? What are salaries like? Obviously I don't expect to make what I earn right now, but just want to get an idea.

I am an Engineer by trade in the oil and gas industry but also have extensive management and business experience.

Any insight would be appreciated!

 

[Slog]

If you have extensive experience then you will be good to go. Finding the right job will take a bit of time because you need connections but tbh networking and connections are a part of life and even in the US it is very important so it's nothingn out of the ordinary.

 

[Laal]

Would be interesting if someone could shed some light on the work culture in Pakistan. From what I understand it's very different.

 

[offstump]

Thanks. So do you recommend LinkedIn to network? Since I am not in Pakistan it's hard to connect face to face with people.

 

[Justcrazy]

how you got Pakistan citizenship ? Does pakistan allow dual nationality ?

 

[Ironcat]

OP, are you planning on returning to North America at any point to resume your current career? If so, keep in mind that a move to Pakistan, India, and most of the Middle East is mostly a one-way career trip.

Energy prices are lower everywhere (not just in Canada), but if you want to stick to that industry, your career prospects are much brighter in the Middle East.

 

[Laal]

how you got Pakistan citizenship ? Does pakistan allow dual nationality ?

Yes - unless you're pursuing a political office.

 

[JaDed]

If its similar to India ,then don't expect much professionalism in all forms of daily life also everything will be very colorful but not organized esp for someone coming from Canada.

 

[DRS]

Profession wise, I think the marketing, management jobs are more in demand followed by the demands for CAs and enguneers

 

[Xeo]

Find a job should not be too difficult for someone with NA education and experience. I moved back 6 years back after a couple of masters degrees and 10 years of work experience in NA and found employment fairly quickly. That was the typical story for most of the people who moved back to Pakistan after some time abroad. It would be a different story if you dont have any experience, i.e. you are one of those individuals who go abroad for the masters and come back after two years.

I would say, plan you move back, settle down, then start looking for work. Try making a list of all the desirable companies you would like to work for, and see if you can locate contacts in those companies. If you can't find anyone, just contact the HR department. There is a massive brain drain problem so these companies are struggling to find people in middle and senior management positions. Salaries are usually excellent along with other perks like company maintained card etc.

Best of luck.

 

[Xeo]

The work culture would be considerably different and it would take 2-3 years to fully acclimatize to that way of working. Things are quite inefficient but after a while you get used to it.

 

[Deosai]

In Pakistan your credentials matter little, it's who you know that will get you a job. It's almost all about sifarish, the bigger connections you got the better job, position and pay. So you gotta establish that network before you go there.

 

[Bilal7]

If we have foreign-born Engineers looking to settle down in Pakistan, the country must be moving in the right direction.

 

[Syed1]

I'll be doing the same in 2017. Hopefully Noora would have steered the economy into safer waters by then..

 

[Xeo]

In Pakistan your credentials matter little, it's who you know that will get you a job. It's almost all about sifarish, the bigger connections you got the better job, position and pay. So you gotta establish that network before you go there.

That is not correct. Also, you'd not want to hang around such places where the only criteria for selection is a sifarish. Those would be pretty lousy places to work.

A professional network is indeed essential to secure any job in middle management and above, as there positions are rarely advertised. However, to say that one needs a sifarish to get these positions is a bit far fetched.

 

[Slog]

In Pakistan your credentials matter little, it's who you know that will get you a job. It's almost all about sifarish, the bigger connections you got the better job, position and pay. So you gotta establish that network before you go there.

Not true. Most top places you would want to work for function largely on merit. And ofcourse they are top places because they aren't filled with underperforming sifarshis.

What maybe true is that to get you foot in the door and get interviews and learn about opportunities you need to build and use your network. But that is a hallmark of job hunting in advanced countries too.

 

[winchester]

With a North American education and work experience you will definitely get a job here and a well paid one if its in the oil and gas sector....
Many Pakistanis who return back after completing their education usually end up opening their own small business these days like software houses because of the lax taxes

 

[offstump]

Thank you for all the replies.

What is considered "well paid" in Pakistan? And what kind of benefits do companies offer? Standard North American benefit package is basically health insurance and retirement savings contributions or matches.

 

[Laal]

Thank you for all the replies.

What is considered "well paid" in Pakistan? And what kind of benefits do companies offer? Standard North American benefit package is basically health insurance and retirement savings contributions or matches.

In PPP terms, your remuneration will be greater in Pakistan than NA. I know a senior engineer at a Pakistani multinational who earns Rs. 120,000 / mn. His benefits include a yearly bonus, some stock options, and a company maintained car (incl. fuel expenses). Not sure if this is the standard, though.

 

[Tired]

My friends in Pakistan at multi national/big banks/oracle/box/microsoft are making from 50 lacs to 1 crore a year plus all standard fringe benefits ... If you are sales/marketing guy, can do lot of BS and have good english then you wont have any problem in finding jobs in Pakistan .... Even top software engineers makes now 250-300k per month

They all are in sales/marketing ...

 

[sjahmed23]

I'm also considering this, I actually know a few people who moved back and they are doing just fine and quality of life is much better. I just don't know how much experience is enough experience. I'm in the utility/energy industry and I just started out of college.

 

[dashing_man]

In PPP terms, your remuneration will be greater in Pakistan than NA. I know a senior engineer at a Pakistani multinational who earns Rs. 120,000 / mn. His benefits include a yearly bonus, some stock options, and a company maintained car (incl. fuel expenses). Not sure if this is the standard, though.

isn't that a bit low

 

[Laal]

isn't that a bit low

Could be. Not too sure. In PPP terms it should be fine.

 

[dashing_man]

Could be. Not too sure. In PPP terms it should be fine.

its fine for a Pakistani citizen but I think it should be higher for a foreigner

 

[FreakCricket]

Working in pakistan specially for a multi-national company has its charm, mind you most multi-national companies HQ are based in karachi so karachi should be your first Priority.

Plenty of perks living in a third world country compared to NA, you can live like a king have maids, chefs and driver if you earn a good living 100k+.
Foreign work exp/degree has priority over local talent, you said you have management experience which will help alot. Recruiters have appered in pakistan too, so you are better talking to them. google it .

My father works for a big pharma for past 35+ year in pakistan, perks are out of this world.

 

[srh]

Find a job should not be too difficult for someone with NA education and experience. I moved back 6 years back after a couple of masters degrees and 10 years of work experience in NA and found employment fairly quickly. That was the typical story for most of the people who moved back to Pakistan after some time abroad. It would be a different story if you dont have any experience, i.e. you are one of those individuals who go abroad for the masters and come back after two years.

I would say, plan you move back, settle down, then start looking for work. Try making a list of all the desirable companies you would like to work for, and see if you can locate contacts in those companies. If you can't find anyone, just contact the HR department. There is a massive brain drain problem so these companies are struggling to find people in middle and senior management positions. Salaries are usually excellent along with other perks like company maintained card etc.

Best of luck.

What if a person have NA experience (lots of it) but no NA education? How will the job market treat that person when he is trying to find job in Pakistan?

 

[DRS]

Hello.
Is there any marketing professional who could shed about this area's future job prospects here?

 

[Maha Ali Khan]

it always takes time to adjust to a new environment and place as well. Te cultural problems are the main reasons outsiders find it difficult to stay somewhere. You first need to understand the rythm of this society, keenly observe the matters in your daily routine. findling a job is not difficult. Believe me there are countless job opportunituies. organizations are looking for the best person who can take thier work at its best. If you have good experience in the past at abroad, every organization will prefer working with you. First start job search through job platforms. Rather than finding jobs at newspaper, its 100 times more benificial to find job online.

Moreover through some of your resources, try to find a solid reference for your desired job. Here, references matter a lot. I hope so if you follow all these instructions, you will surely be doing a job somewhere within a short time. All the best wishes.