Pakistanis Leaving the Country for Work Decrease Amid Visa Problems

The trend of Pakistani workers leaving the country witnessed a slowdown in recent months as the manpower export of the country stood at 663,186 by the end of November 2024.   According to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), Pakistani migrant workers increased to a record level of 862,625 by the end of 2023, showing a gap of 199,439 from the last year.   With one month left in the calendar year, the manpower exports are projected to record a huge gap from the last year.   Gulf countries remain the top destination for Pakistani workers with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the most preferred choice which received over 408,709 Pakistanis in 2024. It was followed by Oman with 72,345 and the UAE with 63,245. Qatar and Bahrain welcomed 37,235 and 22,455 Pakistani workers in eleven months of 2024.   In overall manpower exports, the majority of Pakistanis left the country as laborers (329,126). It was followed by exports of drivers with 170,487. The drop in manpower export was reported by the change in visa policy by a friendly country.   Meanwhile, these workers improved the remittances to Pakistan, seeing consistent growth mainly from the GCC region. By the end of October 2024, remittances sent by overseas Pakistan reported a handsome 35 percent growth from the last year touching $11.8 billion during the period of July to October of 2029.   Last year, the country’s manpower exports reported the second-highest migration after 2015. According to an analyst, Pakistan’s potential of export of manpower is much higher than reported.