Over 700,000 Pakistanis went abroad for jobs in 2025

More than 700,000 Pakistanis went abroad for employment in 2025, with Saudi Arabia remaining the leading destination for overseas workers, according to the National Economic Survey 2025-26.

The survey showed that nearly 70 percent of all Pakistani workers who secured overseas employment during the year moved to Saudi Arabia.

According to the report, 530,256 Pakistanis travelled to Saudi Arabia for work in 2025, making it by far the largest destination for the country's migrant workforce.

Qatar emerged as the second-largest destination, receiving 68,376 Pakistani workers during the year.

The survey also highlighted shifts in migration patterns, showing a decline in the number of Pakistanis seeking employment in several countries compared with 2024.

The number of Pakistani workers going to the United Arab Emirates fell to 52,664 in 2025 from 64,130 a year earlier.

A much sharper decline was recorded in Oman, where only 9,375 Pakistanis secured jobs in 2025, down from 81,587 in 2024.

Similarly, the number of Pakistanis travelling to the United Kingdom for employment dropped to 4,355 in 2025, down from 13,795 the previous year.

The survey did not specify the reasons for the declines but indicated shifting trends in overseas employment markets and labour demand across countries.