A notable number of Pakistanis pursued employment opportunities in foreign countries during the initial three months of 2025, with figures released by the Bureau of Immigration indicating that 172,144 individuals ventured overseas for work in this period.
Saudi Arabia emerged as the primary destination for Pakistani workers, attracting the largest contingent of job seekers, totaling 121,190. Oman followed as the second most popular choice, with 8,331 Pakistanis seeking employment there, while the United Arab Emirates welcomed 6,891 individuals.
Qatar also proved to be a sought-after location, with 12,989 Pakistanis securing jobs, and Bahrain experienced an influx of 939 Pakistani workers.
Other significant destinations included the United Kingdom (1,454), Turkiye (870), Greece (815), Malaysia (775), China (592), Azerbaijan (350), Germany (264), the United States (257), Italy (109), and Japan (108).
Analyzing the occupational breakdown of those who found employment abroad, 99,139 individuals were classified as general laborers.
Within the skilled labor category, 38,274 were drivers, 1,859 masons, 2,130 electricians, 1,689 cooks, 3,474 technicians, and 1,058 welders.
The emigration of professionals was also noteworthy, with 849 doctors and 1,479 engineers seeking opportunities overseas. Additionally, 390 nurses and 436 teachers were among those who secured employment in foreign countries during the first quarter of the year.
Separately, data from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) revealed that as many as 28,000 Pakistani nationals applied for international protection in the EU+ between October 2023 and October 2024.
Statistics showed that asylum applications peaked in October 2023, reaching approximately 3,400 — with figures subsequently following a downward trend to 1,900 applications in October 2024.
It’s important to note that the EU’s statistics represent a separate avenue, as illegal human smuggling channels are also utilized by Pakistanis to reach Europe.
