In the first three months of 2025, a large number of Pakistanis went abroad for jobs. According to data released by the Bureau of Immigration, 172,144 Pakistanis left the country in this period to find employment.
Saudi Arabia remained the most popular destination, with 121,190 Pakistanis going there for jobs. Oman was next with 8,331, followed by the United Arab Emirates, which welcomed 6,891. Qatar also attracted 12,989 Pakistanis, while Bahrain received 939.
Other countries where Pakistanis found jobs 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).
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Out of the total, 99,139 people were listed as general labourers. Among skilled workers, 38,274 were drivers, 1,859 were masons, 2,130 were electricians, 1,689 were cooks, 3,474 were technicians and 1,058 were welders.
There was also a significant number of professionals who moved abroad. These included 849 doctors, 1,479 engineers, 390 nurses and 436 teachers. All of these figures are from the first quarter of the year.
Separately, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) shared that 28,000 Pakistanis applied for international protection in the EU+ area between October 2023 and October 2024. The applications peaked in October 2023 at around 3,400. Since then, the number has declined to 1,900 applications in October 2024.
These EU figures are considered separate from official immigration numbers, as many Pakistanis also reach Europe through illegal human smuggling routes.
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