Key Points
- Pakistani overseas employment rises 5% in 2025, reaching 762,499 workers
- Remittances increase 9%, providing nearly $40 billion in foreign exchange
- Labour agreements with Italy, Belarus, and Iraq expand global job access
- Qatar resumes work visas after 19 years, boosting Gulf employment opportunities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan experienced a significant rise in overseas employment and remittances in 2025, according to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, highlighting the growing role of migrant workers in the country’s economic development.
This growth comes amid strategic labour agreements and renewed access to Gulf employment, providing vital foreign currency inflows for Pakistan’s economy.
The ministry reported that a total of 762,499 Pakistanis secured jobs abroad last year, marking a 5 per cent increase over 2024.
Remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis grew by approximately nine per cent, reaching nearly $40 billion. These funds play a crucial role in maintaining Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, supporting household consumption, and bolstering the national economy in a year of global uncertainty.
Remittances have long been a key stabilising factor for Pakistan, helping to offset trade deficits and sustain essential imports.
Economists note that the increase in remittances in 2025 reflects both higher labour mobility and government initiatives aimed at facilitating overseas employment.
The ministry credited the Bureau of Immigration for implementing measures that simplified recruitment and supported workers in navigating legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring safe and structured employment opportunities abroad.
In 2025, Pakistan signed labour mobility agreements with Italy, Belarus, and Iraq. Italy allocated 10,500 positions over three years, providing roughly 3,500 jobs annually in sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, agriculture, and ship‑breaking. These agreements enable a structured approach to labour migration, enabling Pakistanis to access secure and reliable employment while addressing international workforce demands.
The Gulf region, traditionally a primary destination for Pakistani workers, also saw renewed opportunities. Qatar resumed issuing work visas for Pakistani labourers after a 19-year hiatus, expanding access to employment in construction, services, and healthcare.
Analysts believe this development could further boost remittance flows and diversify the geographic distribution of Pakistan’s overseas workforce, reducing dependency on single regions.
Government initiatives have complemented these agreements. The ministry has enhanced monitoring and regulation of recruitment agencies by introducing digital platforms to track overseas placements and ensure compliance with legal standards.
These reforms aim to prevent exploitation and provide transparency in overseas employment processes. Social welfare measures for migrant workers’ families have also been strengthened, with increased support for marriage and death grants, reflecting a holistic approach to migrant welfare.
Economists highlight that the rise in overseas employment and remittances strengthens Pakistan’s foreign exchange position, cushions the economy against external shocks, and supports domestic consumption.
Remittance inflows are, particularly, important in stabilising the currency, funding essential imports, and sustaining economic growth, especially at a time when global trade conditions remain volatile.
The ministry’s efforts to expand labour agreements and improve facilitation mechanisms are seen as key drivers for maintaining this upward trend. Officials emphasised that structured employment channels, transparent recruitment, and welfare initiatives are critical for ensuring safe and productive opportunities for Pakistanis abroad, while maximising economic benefits for the country.
Looking ahead, the government plans to continue negotiating labour agreements with additional countries, focusing on both developed and emerging markets. Strengthening labour mobility frameworks and expanding access to global job markets are expected to increase employment opportunities and remittance inflows, sustaining Pakistan’s economic resilience and supporting millions of families that depend on overseas earnings.
With nearly 762,500 workers employed abroad and remittances approaching $40 billion, Pakistan’s migrant workforce remains a vital pillar of the national economy. Government initiatives, international agreements, and renewed access to Gulf countries collectively highlight a positive trajectory for overseas employment and foreign exchange inflows, demonstrating the growing global significance of Pakistan’s workforce.
