Nearly 10 million Pakistanis left country since 2008

ISLAMABAD: Over the past 17 years, nearly 10 million Pakistanis have left the country in search of better opportunities abroad, with the highest number of migrants during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regime from 2013 to 2018, a report issued by the Pluse Consultant.

According to the report published titled ‘An Overview of Pakistani Emigration Patterns’, a total of 9,556,507 people migrated from Pakistan in the last 17 years.

The migration wave peaked in 2015, with over 900,000 people leaving Pakistan in search of jobs. However, by 2018, that number had fallen sharply by 60 percent, with only around 300,000 people migrating for jobs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected migration trends, with 2022 seeing an increase in numbers as restrictions ease. In 2022 and 2023, the number of migrants reached about 800,000.

Interestingly, the proportion of highly skilled people emigrating has increased to 5 percent by 2022, up from 2 percent previously.

However, the majority of those who left the country in the last two years are blue-collar workers and the labor class, with 46 percent being unskilled workers, compared to 41 percent during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) era.

Significant changes have also been observed in migration destinations and employment opportunities.

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While Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Qatar have traditionally been the top destinations for Pakistani job seekers, the post-Covid landscape has seen a significant shift. The United Arab Emirates saw a sharp decline in Pakistani workers, while Saudi Arabia saw substantial growth.

The UK, Iraq and Romania have also gained prominence as attractive destinations for Pakistani migrants in the post-Covid era. This mass exodus raises concerns about brain drain and the impact on Pakistan’s economy and workforce.