According to data shared by the federal government with the Senate, over 3.27 million Pakistanis—approximately 1.3% of the country’s population—have been sent abroad for employment through official channels from 2019 to August 2024.
Breakdown of Employment Abroad
These workers were deployed through the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment and the Protectorate of Emigrants. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) provided this information in response to a query by Senator Masroor Ahsan from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Total Number of Pakistani Workers Sent Abroad (2019 – August 2024)
| Total Number of Workers | 3,276,861 |
|---|
Regional Distribution
| Region | Number of Workers |
|---|---|
| Punjab | 1,790,000 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 1,020,000 |
| Sindh | 255,537 |
| Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) | 124,900 |
| Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) | 32,046 |
| Balochistan | 28,119 |
| Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) | 5,436 |
Top Destinations for Pakistani Workers
| Country | Number of Workers (Reported) | Number of Workers (Revised) |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 1,829,709 | 1,829,907 |
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | 708,268 | 707,416 |
| Oman | 265,496 | 265,455 |
| United Kingdom | 33,652 | N/A |
| United States | 3,820 | N/A |
Discrepancies and Data Issues
The data shared by MOPHRD revealed discrepancies, including an erroneous listing of “Pakistan” as a destination for employment. For example, an incorrect entry indicated that 50 Pakistanis were sent to “Pakistan” for employment in 2019.
The official lists contained differing numbers for the top three destination countries, highlighting inconsistencies in the reported statistics.
Summary
The significant number of Pakistanis employed abroad reflects the growing trend of international labor migration facilitated by government channels. However, the discrepancies in the data raise concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the reported figures. Further clarification and correction are needed to ensure accurate reporting and analysis of labor migration trends.
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