Pakistan has one of the world’s youngest populations, yet an increasing number of young Pakistanis are looking beyond the country’s borders for their future. Ask many college and university students about their future, and one answer increasingly stands out: “I want to go abroad”.
Even young people from rural areas are increasingly looking for opportunities abroad. Why has going abroad become such a dominant plan for young Pakistanis seeking to build their future? They pursue bachelor’s degrees in Pakistan while learning European languages, preparing for IELTS, applying for passports, arranging bank statements, seeking loans and navigating the visa process. For many it's no longer a question of whether they want to leave, but of where they can go.
The problem is not that Pakistani youth have stopped dreaming, but the problem is that they think that their dreams require a visa to be fulfilled. For decades, migration was only concerned with economic development when Pakistan’s youth worked abroad and fed their families back in their homeland, giving them a luxury lifestyle in their homeland and supporting them by establishing businesses for them in Pakistan.
But now, it has become an issue of worrying instead of economic development. A Pakistani student spent four years in a university doing his bachelor’s spending a huge amount on the study, and after graduation, he failed to secure a job. Another student may get a job but cannot see any professional growth in it. A talented young person may have the skills to work internationally but is unable to find an environment where his skills can be rewarded.
Even when graduates find jobs, their salaries may not be enough to maintain a decent standard of living or meet their basic needs. For such young people, leaving is not the path they want to choose intentionally, but it is a calculated decision. When they compare limited opportunities at home with better-paying opportunities abroad, migration begins to look like a rational investment in their future.
According to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), 763,526 Pakistanis proceeded abroad for employment in 2025. A large number of migrants were laborers, low-skilled and unskilled workers but more than 18000 were those who are highly qualified and professional, including doctors, engineers, IT specialists, managers, and nurses. There are many reasons behind this, but some of the major ones include low wages and salaries, unemployment, inflation, limited career progression and a lack of suitable jobs for graduates. As the cost of living continues to rise, salaries often fail to keep pace.
For many workers, monthly earnings are barely enough to cover basic household expenses. The mismatch between university education and the demands of the job market is another factor contributing to graduate unemployment. Many students leave university with strong theoretical knowledge but limited practical skills that employers actually seek. Limited opportunities for career advancement can also encourage young professionals to look abroad, where they may perceive clearer pathways for professional growth.
Money is not the only reason behind youth migration. Meritocracy, career growth, professional recognition, institutional stability and quality of life also influence young people's decisions, yet these factors are discussed far less often. Not everyone is leaving Pakistan because of limited job opportunities here, but some may leave because they want to put their efforts into a system where their efforts will be rewarded. People can compromise on low income, but they cannot tolerate nepotism and sifarish.
A qualified and skilled candidate may sometimes feel that merit is outweighed by personal connections, while less-qualified candidates can receive opportunities through nepotism or sifarish. For many workers, even a conventional 9-to-5 job does not guarantee a comfortable standard of living. After covering basic expenses, little may remain for building assets, securing a better future or providing the quality of life they want for their children. Pakistan educates young people, but other countries often benefit from their skills.
For many Pakistani graduates, international scholarships provide another pathway abroad, particularly for master's and doctoral studies. There are a lot of prestigious scholarships that does not cost a single penny to students, and asking them just to come to their countries and serve their economy. These scholarships are covering their tuition fees, travel allowance, visa cost, monthly stipends, and accommodation.
Pakistani students have been on top of winning Europe’s prestigious scholarship “Erasmus Mundus” for the past 5 years. This includes the talented doctors, engineers, IT specialists and other social sciences students that are not rewarded in Pakistan. Furthermore, there are some people who just want to leave because social media has glamorized the life abroad. They are not aware of the situations they have to face behind the screens, which include loneliness, homesickness, language barriers, job competition, expensive living, visa problems, and, most important, living away from family.
The main point is that now the migration is not a brain circulation, but it is a brain drain. Youth go abroad and never come back and serve other countries where their efforts are rewarded. Pakistan cannot force its youth to stay. It can only give them reasons to stay. Pakistan should create enough job opportunities for youth, including skilled and unskilled people.
Job opportunities should be based on merit and remain accessible to both men and women. Meritocracy should be transparent. Elimination of nepotism and “Sifarish” is important to make the youth stay in Pakistan. Young Pakistanis need to believe that their abilities and efforts matter here and that they can be rewarded here. The problem is not that Pakistan's youth have dreams. The problem begins when they start believing those dreams can only come true somewhere else.
Written by: Abdullah Ahmad
Note: The views expressed by the blogger are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution. — Editor
