Manpower exodus tops 615,000 amid barriers

Pakistan's manpower exports climbed over 615,000 in the first 10 months of 2025, but the record outflow masks deepening challenges faced by workers seeking opportunities abroad. Despite rising demand in Gulf markets, thousands of Pakistanis continue to battle complex visa requirements, tighter documentation rules, frequent rejections, and heightened airport offloading, obstacles that often turn already desperate economic migration into a punishing ordeal. Pakistan's export of manpower to international markets reached 615,055 by the end of October 2025, reflecting a robust average of 61,505 workers leaving the country each month, according to the official data released by the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE). In comparison, 727,381 Pakistani workers moved overseas in 2024, marking an average monthly outflow of 60,615.