91 in 5 markets

91.3%

This number surprised me.

In 2024, more than 9 out every 10 Pakistani s registered for overseas employment went to 5 countries. Only 5. 

Saudi Arabia. Oman. UAE. Qatar. Bahrain.

Pakistan rightly talks about increasing overseas employment. But we also need to ask as to how diversified is our overseas employment strategy?

The Gulf isn’t the problem

Pakistan should not move away from the Gulf. Saudia alone received 452,562 Pakistani workers in 2024 which is more than 62% of the total.

And the transformation taking place across Gulf economies will create even greater opportunities in construction, hospitality, healthcare, logistics, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and technology.

But there is a difference between having a strong market and being dependent on it.

Where is our diversification?

If 91% of our workers are going to 5 countries in 1 region, we have a problem. It is called a concentration risk.

And it isn’t our only one.

Two concentrations

The 2024 data reveal another thing. Roughly 3 out of every 4 Pakistani workers registered for overseas employment were either laborers or drivers.

So, our overseas employment model suffers from a double whammy.

Geographically: 91 % in 1 region

Occupationally: in just 2 trades. Drivers and laborers.

A series overseas employment strategy just cannot keep asking how many Pakistanis? Kitnai admi thai ?

Instead, where can Pakistan compete and at what skill level?

Looking beyond the map

Japan is aging. South Korea has established pathways for foreign workers. European economies face shortages in selected healthcare, construction, technical and service occupations.

Recipe for a match made in heaven is that Pakistan has a young population. But that’s theory. Sad practical fact is that having young people does not automatically create an exportable workforce.

A Japanese employer doesn’t need Pakistan’s demographics. S/he needs a worker with skill, language level and recognized competence.

This is where we are losing.

Suppose Pakistan expands from 5 countries to 20 countries but continues sending lower ticket value workers. The geographical diversification will happen but economically?

My suggestion?

More markets. More higher value occupations

Building skills, international certification which will allow us to compete.

Because 91.3 in 5 markets is not just a statistic. It is a warning …. a risk.

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Source of the figures in the article are Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BE&OE), Government of Pakistan 2024.