More than 1.87 million highly educated Pakistanis have left the country over the past three years, according to documents presented in Parliament.
The documents show that 45,830 highly educated Pakistanis went abroad in 2024, while 28,726 secured overseas employment in 2025. A further 15,850 highly educated Pakistanis travelled abroad in 2026 so far.
Those leaving include doctors, engineers, information technology professionals, teachers and other skilled workers. The figures highlight the continued movement of educated professionals seeking employment opportunities outside Pakistan.
Read more: From brain drain to brain gain
Managers accounted for a significant share of overseas employment. The documents recorded 23,674 managers going abroad in 2024, followed by 9,562 in 2025. Another 5,190 managers travelled abroad for work in 2026.
The engineering sector also recorded substantial numbers. A total of 8,015 engineers secured overseas employment in 2024, while 5,945 did so in 2025. The documents reported that 3,605 engineers went abroad for work in 2026 so far.
The figures also covered accountants and medical professionals. Some 4,779 accountants went abroad in 2024, followed by 4,305 in 2025 and 1,771 in 2026. Meanwhile, 3,625 doctors travelled abroad in 2024, compared with 3,795 in 2025 and 2,093 in 2026.
Read more: Two million Pakistanis move abroad in three years
Teachers were also included in the reported migration figures. The documents showed that 1,729 teachers went abroad in 2024, while 1,725 left in 2025. A further 1,457 teachers travelled abroad in 2026 so far. The figures were presented in Parliament and cover several categories of highly educated and professional workers seeking opportunities overseas.
