Over 2.8 Million Pakistanis Emigrate in Three Years
ISLAMABAD: Low salaries, limited amenities, and expensive private education are forcing Pakistanis abroad. Official data shows that over 2.8 million Pakistanis have emigrated in the past three years, up to September 15. According to the Protectorate of Emigrants, emigrants paid Rs2.66 billion in protectorate fees.
Professionals and Skilled Workers Going Abroad
The emigrants include doctors, engineers, IT specialists, teachers, bankers, accountants, auditors, designers, and architects. Skilled workers such as plumbers, drivers, electricians, and welders are also part of this growing outflow. Notably, women form a significant portion of those leaving. This broad spectrum indicates a worrying trend of both brain drain and labor shortages.
Provincial Breakdown of Migration
Data from the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment reveals Punjab leads with 7,245,052 emigrants from 1981 to August 2025. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa follows with 3,575,954, Sindh with 1,281,495, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir with 813,526. Northern Areas and Balochistan recorded the lowest figures at 30,776 and 813,526 respectively. In total, 13,885,816 Pakistanis have emigrated since 1981.
Rising Desire to Leave
A report by Denmarkâs Foreign Affairs Ministry and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) states that 40% of Pakistanis wish to leave. This aspiration is particularly strong in Balochistan, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Moreover, interest in migration is more pronounced in cities than rural areas.
Surge in Illegal Migration
Illegal migration to Europe surged 280% in the first ten months of 2022. By the end of 2023, nearly 8,800 Pakistanis entered Europe illegally. Many used dangerous routes through Dubai, Egypt, and Libya. Experts warn this trend has grown riskier over the past two years.
Key Drivers Behind Migration
Economic challenges, political instability, unemployment, high inflation, terrorism, and limited educational opportunities are the main reasons cited. Analysts caution that Pakistan faces increasing risks of losing both skilled and unskilled workers if these factors remain unresolved. Every year, Pakistan is losing almost one million professionals and skilled workers as people prefer to go abroad for a bright future.
