More than 90,000 Pakistani professionals, including managers, engineers, doctors, accountants, nurses, teachers, and IT specialists, traveled abroad for employment in 2024, 2025, and 2026 so far, according to official documents shared with RBN.
The data records 45,830 overseas departures in 2024, followed by 28,726 in 2025 and 15,850 in 2026 so far. These figures cover specific professional categories and do not include all Pakistanis who have moved abroad.
Managers made up the largest group among the listed professions. A total of 23,674 managers went overseas for work in 2024, while 9,562 did so in 2025 and 5,190 in 2026 so far.
Engineering professionals also accounted for thousands of departures. The number of engineers going abroad stood at 8,015 in 2024, 5,945 in 2025, and 3,605 in 2026 so far. Accountants recorded 4,779 departures in 2024, 4,305 in 2025, and 1,771 in 2026 so far.
Doctors were another prominent category. Overseas departures among doctors increased from 3,625 in 2024 to 3,795 in 2025, before reaching 2,093 in 2026 so far.
Among nurses, 2,030 went abroad in 2024, followed by 1,639 in 2025 and 626 in 2026 so far. The number of teachers seeking overseas employment stood at 1,729 in 2024, 1,725 in 2025, and 1,457 in 2026 so far.
Other healthcare professionals also appeared in the figures. Dental surgeons accounted for 84 departures in 2024, 63 in 2025, and 45 in 2026 so far. The corresponding figures for pharmacists were 155, 183, and 156.
Technology professionals were also among those seeking work overseas. A total of 1,351 computer programmers went abroad in 2024, compared with 1,147 in 2025 and 664 in 2026 so far. Systems analysts recorded 388 departures in 2024, 362 in 2025, and 243 in 2026 so far.
Financial analysts recorded 683 overseas departures in 2024. The figure rose to 923 in 2025 before falling to 424 in 2026 so far. Consultant departures declined from 836 in 2024 to 512 in 2025 and 228 in 2026 so far.
The data also includes highly skilled workers, budget controllers, and pilots. Overseas departures among highly skilled workers totaled 1,616 in 2024, 1,510 in 2025, and 681 in 2026 so far.
The number of budget controllers going abroad stood at 64 in 2024, 38 in 2025, and 18 in 2026 so far. Pilot departures totaled 33 in 2024, 37 in 2025, and 11 in 2026 so far.
The figures provide a breakdown of overseas employment among Pakistani professionals across several industries. However, they do not identify the reasons for their departure or establish whether those who went abroad intend to settle there permanently.
