Pakistan’s brain drain at a ‘level of panicking’ as youths leave in droves, say experts
More than 800,000 Pakistanis have left the country every year for the last two years – almost three times more than in 2021.
Pakistani youths.
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ISLAMABAD: For young Pakistanis like Mr Suleman Asghar, leaving their country is a difficult decision to make – but staying will make life even tougher for them.
The 28-year-old currently struggles to provide for his family of nine on his income. While he is luckier than most and owns a shop, he earns about 40,000 to 50,000 rupees (US$143 to US$180) per month, which is far from enough for his family.
“I’m considering leaving Pakistan to seek better opportunities elsewhere. Facing a business loss has made it incredibly tough for me to sustain my family’s financial needs,” he told CNA.
The South Asian nation, home to the world’s fifth-biggest population, is facing a massive exodus. Many of its young and most educated citizens are leaving in hopes for a better life elsewhere, unable to manage their daily expenses as they struggle to find a job.
The unemployment rate in Pakistan rose sharply from about 6 per cent in 2022 to 8.5 per cent last year, statistics from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) showed.
The nation has a population of more than 240 million and is one of the youngest countries in the world, with almost two-thirds of its citizens aged under 30.
More than 800,000 Pakistanis have left the country every year for the last two years – almost three times more than in 2021, according to data from Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment.
Many are unskilled and will accept any kind of manual work, but some of the brightest minds have also left or are seeking to leave.
UNABLE TO THRIVE OR PROVIDE
Pakistan’s economy was in turmoil last year, with inflation rising to almost 30 per cent. Its consumer price index growth reached an all-time high of 38 per cent in May, while the Pakistani rupee hit a historic low of more than 300 rupees against the United States dollar in August.
The country was on the verge of a default when it signed a US$3 billion bailout with the IMF in June in 2023, avoiding a serious financial crisis.
Even in its capital Islamabad, one of the country’s richest areas, many cannot find a job and are ready to risk everything by leaving. A large number who depart head to the Middle East – particularly Saudi Arabia – while in Europe, Romania has welcomed a surge of unskilled Pakistani labour.
Mr Adeel Sabeel is one such youth who left the country for Romania but faced immigration issues.
The 25-year-old had gone there with dreams of a better life but when he reached Romania’s main airport, he was deported due to incomplete paperwork. He is now back in Pakistan in search of a job once more.
He told CNA that his goal was to settle abroad for better opportunities because of the problems in managing his daily household expenses.
“At this stage in life, I find myself in a position where I need to be a pillar of support for my family. Considering the need to settle down, I don't believe I can thrive under such challenging circumstances,” he added.
“AN ALARMING FACTOR”
Experts said the Pakistani government should be more concerned about retaining workers and speed up its efforts to do so.
“It should not be a level of worrying. It should be a level of panicking right now,” said Dr Farhat Asif, president of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies.
However, Pakistan’s leaders do not see its brain drain as a loss but an asset instead.
Mr Rana Ihsan Afzal Khan, an advisor to Pakistan’s prime minister, told CNA that Pakistani emigrants abroad are a strength for the nation because they send money back home, which helps the economy. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the nation’s low economic growth poses a problem.
“Definitely, the (economic) growth rate in Pakistan is below the growth rate of population increase, so this is an alarming factor,” he said.
“I’ve agreed and accepted the fact that we're going through a phase where we are in a low growth phase … and this is a major concern of the government.”
