Government figures shared in Pakistan’s National Assembly show thousands of doctors, engineers, and teachers among those who left.
More than 1.87 million Pakistanis have left the country for work abroad over the past three years, according to official figures presented in Pakistan’s National Assembly.
The data was shared on Friday, October 16, during question hour by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, in response to a question from a lawmaker. It covers 2024, 2025, and the months of 2026 so far.
Among those who left were more than 90,000 highly educated professionals, including doctors, engineers, accountants, nurses, teachers, and IT specialists.
Highly Educated Pakistanis Moving Abroad for Work
The numbers show a steady flow of qualified professionals each year, though the count has dropped since 2024.
In 2024, 45,830 highly educated Pakistanis went abroad for employment. That figure fell to 28,726 in 2025. So far in 2026, 15,850 have left.
Managers made up the largest professional group, with 23,674 leaving in 2024 alone. Engineers followed, with 8,015 that year, 5,945 in 2025, and 3,605 so far in 2026.
The number of doctors leaving has held fairly steady. A total of 3,625 doctors went abroad in 2024 and 3,795 in 2025, with 2,093 more leaving this year so far, HUM News reported.
Teachers, nurses, computer programmers, and financial analysts also appear in the figures. The list includes smaller numbers of pharmacists, dental surgeons, and even pilots.
Nurses remain in high demand in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, according to the ministry. It said engineers face visa restrictions in some countries, which limits their options.
Overseas Pakistanis and Remittances
Officials told the house that more than 10 million Pakistanis now live abroad. Together, they send home about $40 billion in remittances every year.
The government said it aims to double that figure within the next two years. To support this, it is expanding technical and vocational training through national training bodies and IT institutions so that more workers can qualify for skilled jobs overseas.
The ministry also said action has been taken against human traffickers and illegal recruitment agents, and that a welfare mechanism now offers financial grants to Pakistanis injured in accidents abroad.
Pakistan has also signed a cooperation agreement on migration with Italy, officials said.
Pakistani professionals who went abroad for work (2024, 2025, 2026 so far)
- Managers: 23,674 / 9,562 / 5,190
- Engineers: 8,015 / 5,945 / 3,605
- Accountants: 4,779 / 4,305 / 1,771
- Doctors: 3,625 / 3,795 / 2,093
- Nurses: 2,030 / 1,639 / 626
- Teachers: 1,729 / 1,725 / 1,457
- Computer programmers: 1,351 / 1,147 / 664
- Financial analysts: 683 / 923 / 424
- System analysts: 388 / 362 / 243
- Pilots: 33 / 37 / 11
