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Pakistan’s Skilled Exodus Deepens as New Data Undercuts ‘Brain Gain’ Claim

Fresh government tallies point to a worsening brain drain linked to economic strain.

Overview

  • Official data for the past 24 months list losses of 5,000 doctors, 11,000 engineers and 13,000 accountants from Pakistan’s workforce.
  • Registrations for overseas employment totaled 727,381 in 2024 and 687,246 through November 2025, with the two‑year outflow expected to exceed 1.5 million.
  • Army chief Asim Munir’s description of migration as a “brain gain” drew widespread ridicule on social media following the release of the new tallies.
  • Top10VPN estimates $1.62 billion in economic losses from nearly 9,735 hours of internet disruptions in 2024, with freelancers reporting steep drops in work and Pakistan cited as a major global gig hub.
  • Authorities say 66,154 passengers were offloaded from flights in 2025 as controls tightened, prompting a prime ministerial review and an announced travel ban targeting so‑called professional beggars.