Over 317,000 Pakistanis leave country for jobs abroad in first six months of 2026

More than 317,000 Pakistanis moved abroad for employment during the first six months of 2026, with doctors, software engineers, IT professionals, petroleum and mechanical engineers, paramedical staff and technicians among those seeking better opportunities overseas.

According to official data, 317,436 Pakistanis went abroad for employment between January and June 2026.

Saudi Arabia remained the top destination, with 183,951 Pakistanis travelling there for jobs. The United Arab Emirates ranked second with 50,773, followed by Qatar with 34,025, Bahrain with 13,329 and Türkiye with 4,673 workers.

Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom and Malaysia were also among the important destinations for Pakistani workers.

The data showed that 316,848 people registered with the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE), while 588 people secured overseas jobs through the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC).

Media reports said that thousands of more Pakistanis are in the process of completing travel and employment-related documentation to move abroad, while passengers are also facing difficulties at airports.

Experts said the trend was contributing to an outflow of skilled workers from the country. However, they added that Pakistanis working abroad could also support the national economy through remittances.