Pakistani worker commits suicide in Saudi Arabia after he fails to receive salary

The working class of Pakistan aspires to go to foreign countries in the hopes of earning a decent living for their families. However, such was not the case for a middle-aged laborer from Pakistan who went to Saudi Arabia in order to pursue these same dreams.

The laborer, identified as Shahid Iqbal was a resident of Nara Mottor, which is a village located near Kahuta, Punjab. Iqbal was a father of four children, who had gone to Saudi Arabia in order to earn for his family so that his kids could see a better future.

However, due to the recession in Saudi Arabia, his employer failed to pay his salary for three months, prompting Iqbal to take his own life.

The incident took place on July 31, as Iqbal hanged himself from a fan in his room in Al-Abwa city of Saudi Arabia. He had been working there as a packer and loader, and had high hopes from his future.

“My brother was very upset the day before he committed suicide as I spoke to him on phone. My brother told me that his employer had not paid him. He asked me what the financial conditions of his family were, I told him that they were struggling hard,” said Zahid Iqbal, younger brother of Shahid.

Providing further details about his brother, Zahid said that his brother had been upset from the beginning as he was being paid lower than what he was promised. Zahid said that Shahid was promised a wage of 1,400 Saudi Riyals every month, however, the company eventually paid fixed a monthly salary of 700 Riyals.

“My family took a loan of Rs250,000 to send Shahid to Saudi Arabia in a bid to improve financial conditions of the family. We were satisfied that Shahid would be able to raise his children in a better way,” Zahid said.

More than 8000 workers are struggling in Saudi Arabia as employers are failing to pay them their salaries. Situation at some camps is so bad, that workers are not even getting food.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has taken notice of the current situation, and has asked relevant authorities to help out the Pakistani workers stuck in Saudi Arabia.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=53804

Posted by fatimaarshad on Aug 8 2016. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.