A total of 250,000 Pakistanis left the country in the first four months of 2026, seeking better employment opportunities and improved living conditions abroad in large numbers.
Saudi Arabia attracted the largest share of departing Pakistanis, with 136,488 workers choosing to relocate there during the first-month period under review by officials.
The UAE recorded a sharp rise in Pakistani arrivals, with 50,000 workers arriving in just four months, nearly matching the full-year total of 52,500 recorded in 2025.
Qatar received 25,500 Pakistani workers, while Bahrain welcomed 10,129 during the same period, reinforcing the Gulf region’s status as Pakistan’s primary labour market.
Turkey hosted 3,000 Pakistani workers, the United Kingdom recorded 1,100 arrivals, and the United States registered 300 Pakistanis who found employment during these four months.
The departures included 1,078 doctors, 2,000 engineers, and 1,650 accountants who left Pakistan for employment abroad in the first four months of this year alone.
Around 419 nurses and 550 computer specialists also departed, raising fresh concerns among analysts about the continued loss of Pakistan’s trained and qualified professional workforce.
Official records show that 850 Pakistanis relocated to China, 1,286 moved to Greece, 1,283 travelled to Iraq, and 577 Pakistanis took up positions in Japan.
| Country | Workers Sent |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 136,488 |
| United Arab Emirates | 50,000 |
| Qatar | 25,500 |
| Bahrain | 10,129 |
| Turkey | 3,000 |
| United Kingdom | 1,100 |
| United States | 300 |
| China | 850 |
| Greece | 1,286 |
| Iraq | 1,283 |
| Japan | 577 |
