Brain Drain in Pakistan: Causes, Implications, and Solutions

Post-dinner and lunch conversations at homes and in offices start nowadays with commentaries on political instability in Pakistan and the dismal economic situation of the country and end with worry about the intelligentsia that is leaving Pakistan for the greener pastures of North America, Europe, Australia, and the Gulf countries. This brain drain throws up some questions in mind: Will Pakistan get rid of this economic downturn soon? Is Pakistan ready to take pragmatic steps to resolve political instability? Are Pakistani leaders worried about the youth exodus from Pakistan? A slew of leading intellectuals from Pakistan have indeed joined the brain drain to the West or other Gulf countries due to unemployment, lack of respect for professionals, and political instability, among others. However, pragmatic and timely measures can help alleviate this brain drain.

The writer encountered a motorcyclist while booking a ride on the Indrive application in Islamabad. The writer asked the driver, “What education does he have?” He replied that he has a degree in civil engineering from Taxila University, and due to the lack of job opportunities, he was riding a motorcycle to support his family.

Brain drain is a phenomenon that indicates a considerable migration of highly educated and skilled professionals from their parent country to another country in search of beneficial employment opportunities and to have a higher standard of living and healthcare facilities. According to the official documents from the Bureau of Emigrants, in 2022, 765,000 young people went abroad. Moreover, those who left the country included more than 92,000 graduates, 350,000 trained workers, and the same number of unskilled workers.

Causes of Brain Drain

Unemployment among qualified workers is very high, and the absence of employment opportunities in the country of origin forces professionals to move abroad. Annually, as per Academia, 480,000 students graduate from different universities in Pakistan, and only 35% of graduates secure jobs. The remaining struggle to earn two square meals through a variety of work. Similarly, according to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, during the year 2023, 450,110 Pakistanis went abroad for employment. Moreover, the writer encountered a motorcyclist while booking a ride on the Indrive application in Islamabad. The writer asked the driver, “What education does he have?” He replied that he has a degree in civil engineering from Taxila University, and due to the lack of job opportunities, he was riding a motorcycle to support his family. Thus, unemployment among skilled professionals is the factor behind brain drain.

Moreover, the lack of respect for the professionals is another reason for brain drain. Usually, qualified people are answerable to a boss who does not know skilled people’s respective domains. Professionals’ competence in their field does not find space and a sound environment to work in Pakistan. This factor encourages them to go abroad. Moreover, salaries in Pakistan do not match their expertise. Due to a lack of employment opportunities, professionals are compelled to work in private companies where their expertise is not respected.

Intellectual Recession in Pakistan

Most often the supervisors in the companies are inexperienced, but having the status of boss makes them superior to professionals. However, by moving to a foreign country, skilled people attain respect and get paid according to their skilled work. Also, they have career opportunities to make their future bright. Therefore, the lack of admiration of the intellectuals in Pakistan forced them to leave their parent country.

Besides, political instability in the country hinders the dream of a bright future. Political instability does not provide opportunities for a better livelihood, and frequent changes in governments disturb economic growth, affecting professionals to have better financial status. The financially sound condition translates into better social, educational, and political standing. Owing to political instability, foreign companies do not invest in Pakistan. Therefore, less foreign direct investment erodes the sustainability of economic growth and raises inflation. Hence, political instability in a country plays a crucial role in brain drain.

Also, a less transparent and prolonged recruitment process for government jobs undermines the trust of aspirants. One’s references, personal connections, and money count more than one’s ability and intelligence. Recruitment to a slew of key positions across the country, particularly in KPK and Sindh, is barely made on merit. The frequent surfacing of illicit recruitment scandals in the Sindh Public Service Commission and the Baluchistan Public Service Commission, among others, speaks volumes of the lack of transparency. Moreover, the long and arduous process usually takes an aspirant 2 or 3 years to make it into the final list. Hence, the lack of a transparent and lengthy process of recruitment plays a crucial role in brain drain.

Brain Drain Deteriorates Socio-Economic Stability of the State

There are a plethora of implications of brain drain that directly impact Pakistan. The first one is decreasing human capital. Due to brain drain, a country faces a shortage of highly qualified and skilled people for different key positions in the country. The study concluded by Agha Khan University (AKU) based on research on young doctors. As per the research, 95% of them intended to move abroad, and this would result in a shortage of skilled doctors’ workforce. Besides doctors, engineers also want to move abroad due to poor salaries, bad work environments, and training.

Secondly, brain drain wastes the huge investment of a government that is spent in education, health, and technological sectors. The government invests much money in the professional development of individuals, and when they leave the workforce, that investment is wasted. Thirdly, when highly qualified and skilled individuals prefer to settle abroad, it directly affects the innovation, research, and development of the parent country. Last but not least, it also negatively impacts the country’s economy because the latter arranges other professionals for the same work against huge remuneration.

Ways to Control Brain Drain

So, what can be done to stem the brain drain? First, the country needs to provide employment opportunities to young graduates and skilled individuals; revamping the industrial sector will effectively accommodate educated, skilled, and semi-skilled youth. As per the industry’s requirement, the education system should turn towards technical and vocational training. Moreover, increasing salaries and better working conditions can also lure individuals to stay in the country. Making the recruitment process transparent and fast will also help in this regard. Above all, providing space for freedom of speech and ensuring a climate of justice will help alleviate brain drain.

In conclusion, it is an irrefutable fact that skilled professionals are leaving the country because of unemployment, fewer opportunities for the future, a lack of respect for professionals, and political instability. As per the Bureau of Emigration, 765,000 individuals left the country. Therefore, this brain drain directly impacted the country in many ways, including a shortage of skilled workers, a dearth of expertise, and a loss of government investment, among others. However, every problem has a solution; therefore, pragmatic and timely measures such as increasing job opportunities, ensuring better working conditions, providing health facilities, and increasing salaries can alleviate the brain drain.