Over the past five years, approximately 2.8 million Pakistanis have migrated abroad through legal channels, while 37% of the country’s population expresses a desire to leave, with educated youth making up the majority of aspiring migrants.
While less-educated individuals risk their lives attempting to reach Europe through illegal means, the trend of legal migration has accelerated significantly.
According to official data, between 1971 and 2022, more than 6 million Pakistanis left the country, including:
Despite being privileged and educated, 36% of young people have preferred to move abroad.
Currently, 37% of Pakistanis wish to relocate overseas, with their top choices being:
Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have shown the highest migration rates, with:
Dr. Anwar Shad, a professor at Peshawar Agricultural University, has voiced concern over the mass exodus of skilled and talented youth, calling it a serious crisis that demands immediate intervention.
Experts warn that to curb this growing trend, the government must take urgent steps to: