Nearly 2.9 million Pakistanis left country in three years amid inflation, lawlessness

Lahore: Over the past three years, a total of 2,894,645 Pakistanis have moved abroad due to rising inflation, lawlessness, and unemployment, according to official data from the Protectorate of Emigrants.

The statistics, compiled up to September 15 this year, reveal that a significant number of women are among those who migrated.

Many of these individuals cited economic pressures and the inability to start or sustain businesses in Pakistan as key reasons for leaving.

The emigrants include professionals such as doctors, engineers, IT experts, teachers, bankers, accountants, auditors, designers, and architects.

Read more: Over 350,000 Pakistanis left country in six months of 2025

Alongside them, skilled and semi-skilled workers including plumbers, drivers, and welders have also sought employment opportunities overseas.

Those who left collectively paid the government of Pakistan around Rs. 26.62 billion in Protectorate fees.

Speaking about their decision, many emigrants stated that salaries in Pakistan have not kept pace with skyrocketing inflation, making it increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihoods.