Pakistan has witnessed a significant outflow of manpower this year, with more than 615,000 citizens travelling abroad for work in the first ten months of 2025. Fresh figures from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) highlight a continuing rise in foreign job placements — but one that is increasingly shadowed by tougher visa checks, stricter documentation standards, and a growing number of travellers being offloaded at airports.
According to BEOE data, an average of over 61,500 Pakistanis left the country each month during the January–October period. For context, a total of 727,381 workers went abroad in 2024.
Saudi Arabia remained the biggest absorber of Pakistan’s workforce, welcoming 431,545 workers in the first ten months of this year. Qatar followed with 53,103 arrivals, while the UAE received 36,433 workers. Analysts say that rapid expansion in construction, logistics, and mega-projects across the Gulf continues to fuel demand for migrant labour.
Migration to developed countries also maintained momentum. The United Kingdom issued work permissions to 3,726 Pakistanis, while 833 individuals moved to the United States — a mix of skilled workers and graduates transitioning into the job market after completing higher studies.
However, despite strong overseas demand, the path to foreign employment has become increasingly difficult. Jobseekers report far more rigorous visa scrutiny in 2025, including complex documentation requirements and higher chances of rejection. New certification rules introduced this year have added yet another layer of difficulty, prompting many applicants to take on heavy loans in a bid to secure overseas opportunities.
Airport offloading — particularly of young travellers — has also risen sharply, causing major financial losses for those who spend substantial sums on agent fees, medical tests, and travel tickets. Meanwhile, skill gaps and weak application profiles continue to hinder Pakistani applicants hoping to secure positions in Gulf states and European markets.
