In a continued trend of labour migration driven by economic opportunity, around 250,000 Pakistanis have travelled abroad for employment during the first four months of 2026, according to official data. The majority of workers moved to Gulf countries, with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar emerging as the leading destinations for Pakistani manpower.
Gulf countries remain top destination
The data shows that Saudi Arabia remained the largest recipient of Pakistani workers, attracting approximately 136,488 individuals during the period under review. The Kingdom continues to rely heavily on foreign labour for construction, services, and maintenance sectors.
The United Arab Emirates also witnessed a notable rise in Pakistani migration. Around 50,000 Pakistanis reportedly moved to the UAE in just four months, compared to 52,500 in the entire previous year, indicating a sharp upward trend in short-term overseas employment demand.
In Qatar, about 25,500 Pakistanis secured jobs, reflecting ongoing labour requirements linked to infrastructure development and service industries.
Other Gulf destinations also saw steady inflows, including Bahrain, where 10,129 Pakistanis found employment.
Migration beyond the Gulf
Outside the Middle East, smaller numbers of Pakistanis moved to various international destinations. Around 3,000 workers went to Turkey, while 1,100 travelled to the United Kingdom and 300 to the United States.
In Asia and Europe, additional migration was recorded, including 850 workers to China, 1,286 to Greece, 1,283 to Iraq, and 577 to Japan. No significant migration was reported to countries such as Greenland, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, and West African states during the period.
Skilled workforce also on the move
The overseas workforce included a significant portion of skilled professionals alongside labourers. According to the figures, more than 150,000 labourers left the country in search of employment opportunities abroad.
The skilled category included over 1,078 doctors, 2,000 engineers, 419 nurses, and 1,650 accountants. In addition, more than 550 computer specialists, 1,235 electricians, 818 mechanics, 9,500 cooks, and over 45,000 drivers also migrated for work.
