Islamabad 29 July: Pakistan’s overseas manpower exports showed a mixed trend in the first half of 2025, with significant growth in labor migration to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while numbers fell sharply for the United Arab Emirates and Oman, according to data from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE).
Saudi Arabia remained the top destination, welcoming 242,337 Pakistani workers between January and July 2025—an average of 40,389 per month. This marks a slight increase compared to the 2024 monthly average of 37,713, when 452,562 Pakistanis migrated to the kingdom.
Qatar also posted a notable rise, with 26,448 Pakistanis securing employment in the country over six months, averaging 4,408 per month. This is up from 2023’s monthly average of 3,401 workers.
The surge in demand is linked to large-scale economic development projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Experts anticipate continued growth in the sector through 2030, especially if Pakistan strengthens its skilled labor force, visa facilitation, and bilateral employment agreements.
However, the UAE and Oman saw a substantial drop in workforce inflows from Pakistan. Only 13,865 Pakistanis moved to the UAE in the first half of 2025—an average of 2,310 monthly—compared to 64,130 in 2024 (5,344 per month). Oman’s numbers were similarly low, with just 8,467 Pakistani workers arriving in six months (1,411 monthly), down from 81,587 in 2024 (6,798 monthly).
Officials attribute the drop in these countries to stricter visa policies, revised labor laws, and market saturation.
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In Europe and North America, trends also varied. The UK saw a decrease in manpower imports from Pakistan, with only 2,595 workers arriving in the first half of 2025—down from 13,695 in all of 2024. Meanwhile, the USA experienced a slight uptick, receiving 584 workers in six months, up from 1,077 during the previous year.
Overall, manpower exports declined to 336,442 in the first half of 2025, compared to 727,381 in 2024. However, officials remain optimistic that improved labor agreements and policy changes could reverse the downward trend in the second half of the year.
According to the State Bank of Pakistan, remittances from overseas workers totaled $38.3 billion last year, with $30.5 billion originating from the Gulf countries, the USA, and the UK.
