Exporting talent

Article Type

Article

Description

In 2022, around 765,000 Pakistanis left the country, including 92,000 highly educated professionals, making it the highest brain drain in 75 years. Over a million more were expected to leave in 2023, with surveys showing nearly 40% of citizens wanting to emigrate. While remittances are often highlighted as a benefit, the outflow creates a deep intellectual, social, and economic vacuum. Shrinking freedoms, lack of economic opportunities, bureaucratic corruption, insecurity, and restricted mobility especially for women are major push factors. Graduates from top universities, instead of contributing to Pakistan’s growth, become part of the overseas diaspora due to state neglect. Foreign scholarships offer opportunities, but most beneficiaries settle abroad after completion, further weakening the country’s talent pool. With poor education access and high dropout rates, Pakistan cannot afford to lose its brightest minds. The article stresses that no nation can progress by exporting its best talent; retaining educated youth is vital for a strong democracy, thriving economy, and vibrant society.

Publication Source

DAWN

Publication Date

12-30-2022

Notes

Nadeem Hussain , Non-resident Visiting Research Fellow

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