ISLAMABAD: More than one million Pakistanis have left the country for overseas employment during the current fiscal year, according to the Economic Survey 2024–25.
The report provides a detailed breakdown of labor migration trends across provinces and regions, highlighting significant regional disparities.
Punjab led the migration wave, with 404,345 individuals going abroad in search of work, making it the largest contributor to the overseas labor force. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed with 187,000 workers, while Sindh accounted for 60,424.
From other regions, 29,937 individuals from the tribal areas and 29,591 from Azad Kashmir also sought employment opportunities abroad. Smaller figures were recorded in:
- Islamabad Capital Territory: 8,621 workers
- Balochistan: 5,668 workers
- Northern Areas: 1,692 workers
The survey emphasizes the crucial role overseas employment plays in supporting Pakistan’s economy—especially through remittances—while also shedding light on uneven regional participation in global labor migration.
