Pakistan Faces Mass Migration Amid Economic Strains
Pakistan is experiencing a significant rise in outward migration due to economic hardships, with nearly 2.9 million citizens leaving recently. Professionals alongside unskilled workers seek better opportunities abroad, posing a potential brain drain crisis for the country as illegal migrations also increase.
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- Pakistan
Pakistan is grappling with a substantial increase in outward migration, with nearly 2.9 million citizens having left the country over the past three years. Deteriorating economic conditions, including low wages and unaffordable private education, are driving this exodus, as revealed by official data from the Protectorate of Emigrants.
According to figures reported by The Express Tribune, migration is not limited to unskilled labor; professionals such as doctors, engineers, and IT experts are also seeking opportunities abroad. Punjab leads in the number of emigrants from 1981 to August 2025, while regions like Balochistan and Northern Areas see fewer departures.
Alarmingly, illegal migration to Europe surged by 280% in the first ten months of 2022, with 8,800 Pakistanis attempting risky journeys. Economic distress in urban centers of Balochistan and PoJK fuels this trend, raising concerns over a potential brain drain crisis in Pakistan's already strained economy.
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