Pakistanis fast flying to greener pastures

The Federal Ministry for Interior is going to have its hands full in the coming days as it struggles to meet the massive increase in the demand to print passports of citizens disillusioned by unemployment and the lack of opportunities.

As many as 7.3 million Pakistanis have left the country over the last 10 years for greener pastures.

According to a document, 6.2 million Pakistan's nationals migrated from the country during the PDM government, while 1.1 million green passport holders preferred to bid farewell during PTI's reign —all in the hope for better employment opportunities.

Around 3.8 million Pakistanis left the country during the PML-N government from 2013 to 2018, followed by 2.08 million during the PDM government, 1.13 million during PTI government and 0.38 million during the incumbent PML-N regime.

The preferred destination of Pakistan's nationals during the PML-N and PDM government was Saudi Arabia as 2.9 million Pakistanis flew to the country. The second hotspot for Pakistani migrants was the UAE with 2.1 million, while 0.4 million went to Oman, 0.2 million to Qatar, 0.1 million to Malaysia, 31,839 to the UK, 4,000 to the USA and 3,861 to Japan.

In contrast, 0.62 million Pakistan's nationals settled in Saudi Arabia during the PTI government, 0.29 million in UAE, 74,000 in Oman, 64,000 in Qatar, 29,000 in Bahrain, 13,500 in Malaysia, 2,741 in UK and 1,309 in USA.

As per the document, over 350,000 highly qualified Pakistanis moved to foreign countries during the 10-year period in question. Of them, 300,000 left the country during the PML-N government, while 48,000 Pakistanis flew out for better prospects during the PTI tenure.

In terms of profession, as many as 24,500 doctors, 62,000 engineers, 13,000 teachers, 12,500 nurses, 53,000 accountants, 217,000 electricians, and 5,257 pharmacists settled in foreign countries over the last 10 years.