Escaping Pakistan

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Times are bad in Pakistan and people are disheartened. Every second individual would want to leave the country for better prospects abroad if given the chance to. It should come as no surprise that Pakistan climbed to the fifth place in an infamous list of countries, which accounted for the most illegal immigrants in Europe. A report released by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) points to some chilling data, saying that nearly 40% of Pakistanis want to leave the country mainly because of economic difficulties, political uncertainty, lack of educational opportunities, lack of employment, inflation and terrorism. This mass desire to migrate, particularly among the younger generation and the highly skilled, underscores a growing crisis of confidence.

Economic hardship is perhaps the most significant factor fueling this exodus. Pakistan has faced consistent economic difficulties, with inflation spiralling out of control and the value of the rupee plummeting. Basic commodities are becoming increasingly unaffordable, and wages have not kept pace with the rising cost of living. The devaluation of the currency, combined with the rising prices of fuel and utilities, has left many struggling to make ends meet. For young people, the lack of stable employment opportunities exacerbates this situation. Job markets remain stagnant, and the promise of financial stability feels elusive. Couple that with recent curbs on the internet and planned restrictions on VPNs, the youth are being robbed of opportunities in the IT sector. No amount of propaganda by state institutions or promises of mega projects will sway our coming generations if those in power cannot understand what the young folks of this country require. As long as these issues persist, the trend of emigration will likely continue, leaving Pakistan to grapple with the consequences of its outflow of talent and potential.