By ABDULLAH 
Pakistan is witnessing an alarming brain drain as nearly 2.9 million citizens have left the country in the past three years (2022–2025), according to official data from the Protectorate of Emigrants. This growing wave of migration reflects the country’s deep-rooted economic challenges, political instability, and limited opportunities for young professionals and skilled workers.
Between 2022 and mid-September 2025, a total of 2,894,645 Pakistanis emigrated abroad, paying over Rs26.62 billion in government fees before departure. The emigrants include a wide mix of professionals doctors, engineers, IT specialists, teachers, bankers, and architects alongside thousands of skilled and semi-skilled workers such as plumbers, welders, and drivers.
Women also make up a significant portion of this migration wave, signaling desperation across all demographics.
According to the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment, the highest number of migrants came from Punjab, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Sindh, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).
- Punjab: 7,245,052 emigrants (since 1981)
- K-P: 3,575,954
- Sindh: 1,281,495
- AJK: 813,526
- Northern Areas: 30,776
- Balochistan: lowest figures overall
This brings the total number of Pakistanis who have gone abroad since 1981 to 13.8 million.
The reasons behind this mass exodus are not surprising. Citizens point to:
- Low salaries that fail to cover rising costs of living.
- High inflation and unemployment rates.
- Poor education system with skyrocketing private school and university fees.
- Political instability and lawlessness.
- Lack of professional growth opportunities within the country.
- Terrorism and security concerns in certain regions.
A student interviewed at the Protector Office explained: “I wanted to study in Pakistan, but quality universities are too expensive. Going abroad feels like the only option for my future.”
Similarly, professionals such as teachers and IT experts expressed frustration at the lack of career growth, saying the “best years of their lives” were being wasted in underpaid jobs.
Experts warn that the continued outflow of skilled professionals and educated youth poses a serious threat to Pakistan’s long-term development. Doctors, engineers, and IT experts are in high demand globally, but their departure leaves critical gaps in the local workforce.
This isn’t the first time Pakistan has faced such a crisis. However, the scale of migration in recent years is unprecedented, raising questions about whether the government can reverse the trend.
Alongside legal emigration, illegal migration has surged. Reports show that illegal migration to Europe rose 280% in 2022, with nearly 8,800 Pakistanis entering Europe illegally by the end of 2023 through dangerous routes via Dubai, Egypt, and Libya.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) also reported that around 40% of Pakistanis expressed a desire to leave the country. This desire was found to be especially high in Balochistan, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan, with city dwellers showing more inclination than rural populations.
While the government has attempted to highlight overseas remittances as a positive outcome of migration, experts argue that the loss of human capital outweighs the short-term financial benefits.
Pakistan already faces shortages of healthcare professionals, IT specialists, and skilled labor. If the brain drain continues unchecked, experts warn that domestic industries will struggle to sustain themselves, pushing the country further into dependency on foreign aid and remittances.
1. Where do most Pakistanis emigrate to?
The majority head to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman) for work. Skilled professionals often move to Europe, the UK, Canada, and the US.
2. How many Pakistanis moved abroad in 2025?
As of September 15, 2025, over 700,000 Pakistanis have left the country this year alone.
3. How many Pakistanis emigrate every year on average?
On average, 700,000 to 900,000 Pakistanis have been moving abroad annually in recent years.
4. Why is Pakistan’s emigration rate so high?
Low wages, rising inflation, lack of quality education, poor governance, and political instability push many to seek a better life abroad.
With nearly 2.9 million Pakistanis leaving in just three years, the brain drain is no longer just a statistic it’s a reality reshaping Pakistan’s social and economic fabric. Unless the government takes concrete steps to improve living standards, create jobs, and make quality education affordable, the exodus is likely to continue, leaving behind an economy struggling without its brightest minds.