ISLAMABAD – More than 1.871 million Pakistanis travelled abroad for employment over the past three years (2024-26), including doctors, engineers, IT professionals, teachers and other skilled workers, according to figures presented in the National Assembly.
The data was submitted by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain in response to a question raised by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Shazia Somro.
According to the figures, 45,830 highly educated Pakistanis went abroad for employment in 2024, followed by 28,726 in 2025 and 15,850 during 2026 so far.
The figures also highlighted the overseas movement of professionals across several sectors. A total of 23,674 managers went abroad in 2024, while the numbers stood at 9,562 in 2025 and 5,190 in 2026 so far.
Among engineers, 8,015 travelled abroad for employment in 2024, followed by 5,945 in 2025 and 3,605 during the current year to date. The number of accountants seeking overseas jobs stood at 4,779 in 2024, 4,305 in 2025 and 1,771 in 2026 so far.
The data showed that 3,625 doctors went abroad in 2024, increasing to 3,795 in 2025. A further 2,093 doctors had travelled abroad for employment in 2026 so far.
The teaching and nursing professions also featured in the figures. Some 1,729 teachers went abroad in 2024, followed by 1,725 in 2025 and 1,457 in 2026 so far. Meanwhile, 2,030 nurses sought employment overseas in 2024, compared with 1,639 in 2025 and 626 during the current year.
In the technology sector, 1,351 computer programmers went abroad in 2024, followed by 1,147 in 2025 and 664 in 2026 so far. The number of system analysts stood at 388 in 2024, 362 in 2025 and 243 in 2026.
The figures further recorded 155 pharmacists travelling abroad in 2024, 183 in 2025 and 156 in 2026 so far. The number of dental surgeons stood at 84 in 2024, 63 in 2025 and 45 during the current year.
Other professional categories included highly skilled workers, financial analysts, consultants, budget controllers and pilots. According to the report, 1,616 highly skilled Pakistanis went abroad in 2024, 1,510 in 2025 and 681 in 2026 so far.
The number of financial analysts seeking overseas employment was 683 in 2024, 923 in 2025 and 424 in 2026. Meanwhile, 836 consultants went abroad in 2024, followed by 512 in 2025 and 228 in 2026 so far.
The data also showed that 64 budget controllers travelled abroad in 2024, 38 in 2025 and 18 in 2026. Among pilots, the numbers were 33 in 2024, 37 in 2025 and 11 during the current year.
During the parliamentary proceedings, Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Awn Chaudhry said that more than 10 million Pakistanis were living around the world and that they contributed $40 billion in foreign exchange to the country.
He said the government aimed to double these remittances over the next two years.