People used to go abroad for a brighter future and better employment and millions of them have settled there permanently, but due to the uncertainty in the country, rising inflation and unemployment, now their number is 1 crore 28 lakh 56 thousand 519.  It is noteworthy that most of those who go abroad are educated youth and highly skilled people. In a Geo tv program, experts have revealed that six lakh Pakistani youths are leaving the country every year. The records of the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment also reflect that in 2023, more than 860,000 Pakistanis left the country in search of employment, including 22,760 people with higher education, while 45,687 were skilled in their fields.

Among them, 8,741 were engineers. 7390 accountants, 3456 doctors and 1533 teachers are included.  The Middle East and other European countries remain their priorities. The record shows that the lowest number of highly educated citizens left Pakistan in 2020 which was only 5121. Due to global restrictions on travel during the 2020-2021 Covid years, this record was low.

The highest number of highly skilled Pakistanis left the country in 2015 with a total of 946,000 people leaving. 12057 in 2013, 14647 in 2014, 16510 in 2016, 16029 in 2017, 16105 in 2018 highly educated and highly skilled people left the country for jobs. 832000 people went out in 2022. Although there is a positive side to the trend of going abroad in that these people send foreign exchange, the other side of the picture is that Pakistan is losing skilled manpower which is worrisome.  The youth should be provided ample employment opportunities within the country. As a matter of fact, it is very unfortunate that skilled people have been going out of Pakistan for a bright future and better employment and millions of them have settled there permanently. The number of those settling abroad is constantly increasing now. A report by Overseas Employment Promoters revealed that more than 90 thousand Pakistanis went abroad for employment in the last one month.

As per another survey report, an estimated 42% of people expect the situation in the country to improve in the next five years, but 41% are disappointed. 17% of them say corruption and 12% political instability as the root cause of economic depression.  On the contrary, one thinks we should also look at the other side of the picture regarding the term brain drain, if some of the surplus workforce outsources their future. In view, this is a good omen for the country's economy. Overseas Pakistanis not only earn foreign exchange, but also prove useful for public diplomacy. They hold high positions in international organizations and add to country’s image at international level.  But the problem is that the workforce within the country itself is decreasing and to overcome the challenge of brain drain, there is an urgent need to provide the best opportunities to the educated youth to build a foreign career in Pakistan and outside Pakistan according to their ability.

Every Pakistani serving abroad should never forget that Pakistan is his motherland, even if he seeks sustenance in any corner of the world, but his heart should beat with his native Pakistan. Undoubtedly, the real secret of the development and prosperity of any country is capable and intelligent people who use their skills to make their own paths, play an active role, thanks to such people, the country sets the stages of rapid development, but the irony is that our country does not value such persons as we do not provide enough opportunities to them to utilize their skills.These skilled and highly professional people at times are left behind in the race of life and get stuck in the mire of problems due to unavailability of jobs and employments and thence they opt for abroad.  If you look at the list of developed countries in the modern era, it is proved that the human capital of developed countries prefers not only to stay in their native country. Rather, the governments there also keep their doors open for talented people from other countries.  I think that if the United States is a superpower today, the main reason for this is to gather intelligent people from all over the world and provide them with the best environment to express their talents. They are attracting intelligent citizens from the countries of the world.

Consultancy institutions are active which guide young students for admission in foreign universities, however it is also a fact that most of the young people are not willing to come back to their country after completing their education.

Meanwhile, it is very unfortunate that in an age of the internet when online earning resources are at their peak, our youth are unable to become part of this lucrative business ventures due to lack of the computer skills. The majority of educated people in Pakistan at present are people with several MA degrees but zero skills. Average intelligence for any country and government and credentials in specific subjects is not possible to provide government jobs to all people.  Skill teaching institutions are active all over the world, but in some countries, youth are trained in one or the other skill from the student age, keeping in mind the interest of the young students. Many education plans and policies have come up with us, but we have been lacking in teaching skills  and technical trainings. Otherwise, our people are also rich in creativity and do not shy away from hard work. Due to this deficiency, the only dream of the unemployed youth is to get a job in a foreign country for which they endure severe hardships. Sometimes their boats sink into the sea and sometimes they die of suffocation in the containers. Most of those who arrive in foreign lands have to do jobs that they would never be willing to do in their own countries. These people can shape the destiny of Pakistan if provided due skills in their home country. If we understand the needs of the world and use the resources in our country accordingly, we can produce an excellent workforce.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 24 2024

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