By Abdul Ghani
Pakistan’s overseas job market is heating up fast. In September 2025 alone, 73,545 Pakistanis found work abroad — a sharp 43 percent rise from August, according to the Finance Division’s Monthly Economic Update & Outlook (October 2025).
This surge in Pakistan overseas employment 2025 reflects not only the strong demand for Pakistani labor in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries but also the government’s growing success in expanding job opportunities overseas.
This reporter learned that the pace of migration remained solid throughout the first quarter of FY2026, giving a strong lift to remittances and helping families back home manage their household finances.
GCC Countries Continue to Lead Job Opportunities
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar remained the top destinations for new workers, followed by Oman, Bahrain, and Malaysia. Most new jobs were in the construction, hospitality, healthcare, and services industries — sectors where Pakistani workers continue to be highly sought after.
Economists pointed out that this upward trend shows Pakistan’s growing role as a key labor-exporting nation. “Each increase in overseas employment doesn’t just add to remittances — it strengthens the local economy through higher household spending,” one analyst explained.
Remittances Strengthen Pakistan’s External Accounts
The Finance Division noted that the impact of this rising labor migration is already visible in Pakistan’s external accounts. Remittances climbed by 8.4 percent to $9.5 billion in the first quarter of FY2026, helping to reduce the trade deficit and support foreign-exchange reserves. For the third month in a row, monthly remittance inflows stayed above $3 billion, reaching $3.18 billion in September.
Government Reforms to Support Skilled Labor Export
To keep up the momentum, the government has launched major reforms in the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) to make work visa processing and skill certifications faster and easier. It is also building stronger labor agreements with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and South Korea to create new opportunities for both skilled and semi-skilled workers.
Training and Certification Programs Expanding
Training programs have also expanded. The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme are offering more vocational courses to help workers gain globally recognized skills. “Expanding skill certification will help Pakistan enter higher-paying job markets abroad,” the Finance Division stated.
Social Programs Cushion Families Amid Rising Costs
Labor migration continues to act as a safety net for many families. The report highlighted how money sent home by overseas workers supports small-town and rural economies, particularly in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir — the main regions from which most emigrants come.
Social welfare programs are also helping families cope with economic pressures. The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) distributed Rs322.6 million in interest-free loans during September, benefiting over 5,000 people. Since 2019, total disbursements have reached Rs120.7 billion.
Meanwhile, Rs14.6 billion was provided through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) during July and August FY2026 to assist low-income households across the country.
Economists said that the combination of rising overseas employment and stronger social protection is cushioning low-income families from inflation and job market shocks.
“Remittances and social programs together have kept consumption steady and helped reduce poverty despite climate-related setbacks,” one economist said.
Outlook: Pakistan May Cross One Million Job Placements
Looking ahead, the Finance Division forecast that if this trend continues, Pakistan could exceed one million overseas job placements in FY2026 — keeping annual remittances above $40 billion.
It stressed that maintaining stable macroeconomic conditions and a transparent exchange rate system would be key to sustaining this growth.
“The contribution of overseas workers remains one of the strongest pillars of Pakistan’s economy,” the Finance Division noted. “With continued training and better support, this workforce will keep powering the country’s financial stability.”
Author Profile
-
Abdul Ghani is a sharp analyst focused on Pakistan's industrial transformation. His reporting reveals the textile sector's pivot from basic cotton to high-growth value-added apparel.
Ghani's work underscores the triumph of knitwear and garments in boosting exports, while warning policymakers to tackle energy costs to secure long-term global competitiveness.
