A Pakistani man’s repeated pleas for employment in Canada have gone viral on X, sparking a wide-ranging online debate on migration, jobs and economic desperation.
The exchange began after Department of National Defence posted a recruitment announcement on X, inviting applications for various defence-sector support roles across Canada. The department stated that Canadian citizens, residents and permanent residents abroad were eligible to apply.
‘I just need a job’
Responding to the post, Ajaz Khan, a user from Pakistan, asked whether applicants from outside Canada could apply. After officials clarified that only permanent residents of Canada were eligible, Khan persisted, enquiring about sponsorship visa jobs.
“I am in Pakistan. I need a sponsorship job in Canada — any province, any programme, any job,” he wrote, adding that his sole aim was to support his family.
Mixed reactions online
The interaction drew sharp reactions from other users. Some warned Khan about immigration rules, while others criticised the idea of moving to Canada amid economic challenges there. One user remarked that Canada was facing job shortages and housing stress, arguing it was not an ideal destination for new immigrants.
Khan, however, defended his plea, saying incomes in Canada were far higher than in Pakistan. “I just need a job so that I can take good care of my family. I’ll send money back to Pakistan so they can live comfortably,” he wrote.
A broader migration context
According to the 2021 Canadian Census, more than 303,000 Canadians reported Pakistani ancestry, with large communities in Toronto, Alberta and British Columbia. Pakistan has also remained among the major source countries for recent immigrants, with thousands securing permanent residency through family reunification and skilled worker programmes by 2024.
The viral exchange has reignited conversations online about global inequality, migration pressures and the human cost behind job-seeking posts on social media.