Islamabad: Over the past 17 years, about 10 million Pakistanis have left the country in search of better opportunities, according to a report by Pulse Consultant cited by ARY News. The report, titled 'An Overview of Pakistani Emigration Patterns,' shows that the largest number of people emigrated during the tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from 2013 to 2018.
In 2015, emigration reached its peak with over 900,000 people leaving Pakistan for jobs. However, by 2018, this number had dropped sharply by 60 percent, with only around 300,000 people emigrating. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected migration trends, leading to a rise in emigration numbers as restrictions eased. In 2022 and 2023, around 800,000 people left the country.
Also Read
The proportion of highly skilled individuals emigrating increased to 5 percent since 2022, up from 2 percent before. Despite this, the majority of recent emigrants have been blue-collar workers, with 46 percent being unskilled labourers, compared to 41 percent during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Migration destinations have also shifted. Traditionally, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Qatar were top choices for Pakistani job seekers. However, post-COVID, the UAE saw a decrease in Pakistani workers, while Saudi Arabia experienced growth. The UK, Iraq, and Romania have also become popular destinations for Pakistani emigrants in recent years.
This mass emigration raises concerns about brain drain and its potential impact on Pakistan's economy and workforce, according to ARY News.
Agencies
Published: 25 Aug 2024, 02:56 pm IST
Related Topics
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.