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. According to a report, after the global epidemic Corona in Pakistan in 2020, in just two years, about eight million Pakistani citizens said goodbye to the country, while the efforts of those who went abroad through illegal means.

The exact data of those who do it is not available to anyone, the highly educated Pakistani citizens who went out of the country with golden dreams in their eyes migrated to the Middle East, Europe, America, Canada, etc. There are countless such foreign education in our country. 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.

The irony is that in our country it is not only the economic crisis which are forcing the youth to seek jobs abroad, but the law and order situation is also a big issue. Though brain-drain has been a long-standing issue in our country, but due to economic melt-down in the post-corona scenario, it has reached an alarming level.

Many are forced by the adverse economic and political instability in the country to leave their homeland. Experts say that the wave of lawlessness due to the increased terrorists and militant activities across the country by the banned TTP and other militants and terrorists organizations after the Fall of Kabul to Taliban is also one of the main factors forcing the youngster to opting for the foreign destinations for future living, in Pakistan have forced thousands of highly educated and skilled citizens to leave the country. A comprehensive data by Bureau of Immigration said that there is a daunting 300 per cent increase in the numbers of youths who have settled aboard during the current so far for a bright future,

The numbers are unprecedented and can result in extreme brain drain situation in the country and experts fear that if the issues of double-digit daunting inflation, rising price hike, unemployment and continuing cost of life was not overcome, the situation can reach a critical level, creating a great vacuum  in our professional set up as the current galore of crises on the political, economic and social horizons as also the increasing lawlessness and law and order situation have darkened future of the youth and high professionals at home. That’s why they are opting for foreign lands for their future settlement.

The continuous political instability in Pakistan for a long time and the growing economic crisis has pushed the future of Pakistan into darkness. This is a big loss which can create a big vacuum which can be gauged from the number of such youths i e,   7000 engineers, 25,000 doctors, 1,600 nurses, 2,000 IT experts, 6,500 chartered accountants, 2,600 agronomists and other agricultural experts and 9,00 PhDs, teachers and educationists. The irony is that our public sector universities, hospitals and other institutions are short of qualified staff and personnel but even then we have failed to pay heed to the issue of brain drain.

Another report says that hundreds of PhD scholars have also left the country due to joblessness.

This is attributed mainly to lack of power of the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) to force teh higher education institutions to regularise hiring and employment of its qualified PhD doctors after their interim jobs.

A recent survey during which dozens of PhD doctors were interviewed found that they are running from pillar to post get job opportunity in Pakistani universities.

The irony is that when these professional go abroad they immediately find a job by impressing people at the helm of affairs of the academia sector abroad.

The irony is that there is a constant decline in our job market which is shrinking with the passage of time.

Recently, in the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee in the Parliament, the issue was highlighted that out of a group of 132 scholars who went abroad for PhD at government expense by the Higher Education Commission, 80 did not return to Pakistan. In the second phase, 68 students who went abroad refused to return home. There is no doubt that the main reason for Pakistanis to leave the country is unfavorable conditions, business activities are severely affected due to political instability and economic crisis. However, 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.  In my view, 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.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 29 2023

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