The trend of Pakistani workers leaving the country has slowed in recent months, with manpower exports standing at 663,186 by the end of November 2024, according to data from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE). This marks a significant decline compared to the record 862,625 workers who migrated abroad by the end of 2023, reflecting a gap of 199,439 workers.

With just one month remaining in the calendar year, manpower exports are projected to fall well short of last year’s figures.

Gulf Countries Lead as Top Destinations

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continue to dominate as the preferred destinations for Pakistani workers. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remained the top choice, receiving 408,709 Pakistani workers in 2024. Oman followed with 72,345, while the UAE welcomed 63,245 workers. Qatar and Bahrain received 37,235 and 22,455 Pakistani workers, respectively, during the first eleven months of the year.

Laborers and Drivers Lead Migration Categories

In terms of job categories, the majority of Pakistanis who migrated abroad in 2024 were laborers, accounting for 329,126 workers. Drivers were the second-largest group, with 170,487 workers leaving the country. The decline in manpower exports has been attributed to changes in visa policies by a friendly country, which impacted migration trends.

Remittances See Significant Growth

Despite the slowdown in manpower exports, remittances from overseas Pakistanis have shown consistent growth, particularly from the GCC region. By the end of October 2024, remittances reached $11.8 billion for the period of July to October, reflecting a 35% increase compared to the same period last year.

Manpower Export Potential Remains High

Last year, Pakistan recorded its second-highest migration figures after 2015, highlighting the country’s strong potential for manpower exports. However, analysts believe that Pakistan’s capacity to export skilled and unskilled labor remains much higher than current figures suggest.