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An Ipsos survey reveals that Saudi Arabia (30%) and the UAE (20%) are the top destinations where Pakistanis aspire to relocate, reflecting frustration over economic challenges and limited opportunities for improving their standard of living.
The survey highlights that most Pakistanis looking to move abroad prefer economically stable countries near Pakistan, countering the perception that youth primarily target Western countries.
According to the Pakistani Bureau of Emigration, 525,378 Pakistanis moved abroad for jobs as of September this year, while over 800,000 left the country in 2022—a significant increase from the pre-pandemic figures of 625,876 in 2019 and 382,439 in 2018.
Amid an ongoing economic crisis, officials have raised concerns about the growing brain drain, which threatens to hinder the country’s recovery. Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s minister for planning, development, and special initiatives, expressed alarm earlier this year, stating, “The huge exodus of educated youth is of great concern.”
