More than 90,000 Pakistanis embarked on journeys abroad in search of employment opportunities in August, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment.
The surge in emigration is part of a broader trend that has seen more than 540,000 Pakistanis leave their homeland in the first eight months of 2023, surpassing previous records.
The data revealed that from January to August 2023, a staggering 540,282 Pakistanis registered for overseas employment, with August accounting for a significant portion of this figure.
Professions of the emigrants
A detailed analysis of the statistics underscored the following diversity of this mass migration:
- 232,749 laborers
- 118,172 individuals left Pakistan with the goal of securing employment as drivers.
- 5,589 engineers.
- 5,216 accountants.
- 2,261 doctors.
- 1,012 teachers.
The data further classified the emigrants into the following skill categories:
- 15,052 highly qualified individuals
- 31,130 highly skilled workers
- 197,719 fell into the skilled category
- 57,516 categorized as semi-skilled
- Unskilled workers constituted the largest group, with 238,865 individuals.
Top destinations
- Saudi Arabia emerged as the top destination for Pakistani workers, attracting 251,655 individuals
- The United Arab Emirates received 147,960 workers.
- 39,901 went to Oman
- 39,479 to Qatar
- 17,647 to Malaysia
- 8,518 to Bahrain
- 4,175 to Romania
- 2,623 to Greece
- 2,373 to Iraq
It is essential to note that these statistics exclusively encompassed individuals who formally registered with the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment. Those pursuing education or alternative pathways for international migration are not accounted for in these numbers.
Comparing the current surge in emigration to previous years, 2023 stands out as an exceptional year. In 2022, a record-breaking 832,339 Pakistanis sought employment opportunities abroad, marking the highest number since 2016.
This trend highlighted the unwavering determination of Pakistanis from diverse backgrounds to seek greener pastures beyond their homeland, driven by the promise of a brighter future on foreign shores.s
