ISLAMABAD: Over 278,536 Pakistanis travelled abroad for employment opportunities during the first five months of 2026, according to data released by the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment.
The bureau’s figures showed that 1,284 doctors left the country to take up jobs overseas during the period.
Drivers accounted for 52,652 of the workers who secured employment abroad, while laborer’s formed the largest group, with 172,006 individuals departing for foreign jobs.
The data further revealed that 2,341 engineers and 487 nurses also moved abroad for employment by the end of May.
Saudi Arabia remained the leading destination for Pakistani workers, attracting 159,144 job seekers.
The United Arab Emirates followed with 50,574 workers, while 30,312 Pakistanis moved to Qatar for employment.
Other destinations included Hong Kong, which received 86 Pakistani workers, and Iran, where 23 Pakistanis secured jobs during the period.
The report also showed that 1,234 Pakistanis left for employment in the United Kingdom, while 357 travelled to the United States for work opportunities.
The figures underscore the continued demand for overseas employment among Pakistanis amid the search for better economic prospects and career opportunities abroad.
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