Punjab launches Parwaaz Card to help workers get jobs abroad
The initiative has been introduced in collaboration with the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF). It aims to reduce the financial pressure faced by workers who want to travel overseas for employment.
Many jobseekers struggle to arrange money for visa processing, medical tests, air tickets and other requirements before starting work in another country. The new scheme is designed to help eligible applicants manage these costs through financing that can be repaid in easy instalments.
Who can apply for the Parwaaz Card?
The scheme is open to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers, as well as professionals who have a verified overseas job offer.
Applicants must meet certain conditions to qualify. They must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid national identity card and be residents of Punjab.
A verified employment offer from abroad is also a compulsory requirement. This means applicants must provide proof that the overseas job opportunity is genuine and meets the programme’s verification standards.
The scheme is intended to support people who have already secured employment but need financial assistance to complete the process of travelling abroad and joining their jobs.
Which expenses will the financing cover?
The interest-free financing can be used for several approved costs connected with overseas employment. These may include visa processing, medical examinations and skills verification.
The financing may also cover air tickets and fees charged by overseas employment promoters. Other approved expenses related to securing a job abroad may also be included, subject to the scheme’s conditions.
By helping with these initial costs, the programme seeks to make overseas employment more accessible to people who may have the required skills but lack the funds to complete the recruitment and travel process.
The financing is not described as a cash grant. Eligible applicants will be required to repay the amount through easy instalments under the scheme’s repayment terms.
Digital application and verification process
Officials say the application, processing and tracking systems for the Parwaaz Card have been digitized.
The digital system is intended to make the process more accessible and transparent. It may also help applicants track the progress of their applications and reduce delays linked to paperwork.
Applications containing complete documentation and successfully completing the verification process are expected to be processed within seven to 10 working days.
However, the actual processing time may depend on the completeness of the documents and the successful verification of the applicant’s information and overseas job offer.
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What if an applicant does not have a job offer?
People who have not yet secured an overseas job offer may explore opportunities through registered overseas employment promoters.
These promoters can help connect jobseekers with employment opportunities abroad through a legal recruitment process. Once an applicant receives a verified job offer, they may become eligible to apply for financing under the Parwaaz Card scheme.
The approach links financial assistance with a confirmed employment opportunity. This may help reduce the risk of financing being used for unverified or unsuitable job offers.
