ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has emerged as the leading employment destination for Pakistani workers in the Gulf region. More than 1.7 million Pakistanis have reportedly secured employment across six Gulf countries over the past three years.
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain shared these figures with the National Assembly on Wednesday.
According to the minister, more than 1.2 million Pakistanis traveled to Saudi Arabia for employment during the three-year period.
The figures highlight the continued importance of Gulf countries as major employment destinations for Pakistani workers seeking opportunities abroad.
Saudi Arabia Remains the Top Destination for Pakistani Workers
Chaudhry Salik Hussain provided a country-wise breakdown of Pakistani workers who traveled to Gulf nations for employment.
According to the figures, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) received approximately 169,000 Pakistani workers during the reported period.
Qatar ranked next, with around 145,000 Pakistanis traveling to the country for employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, approximately 91,000 Pakistanis moved to Oman, while Bahrain received around 80,000 Pakistani workers.
Kuwait recorded the lowest number among the six countries, with approximately 10,000 Pakistanis traveling there for employment.
These figures show that Gulf countries continue to attract a significant number of Pakistani workers.
Over 1.87 Million Pakistanis Went Abroad for Jobs
Earlier, official figures presented during the National Assembly’s Question Hour revealed additional details about overseas employment.
According to government documents, approximately 1.871 million Pakistanis left the country for employment between 2024 and 2026.
The figures also included information about educated and skilled professionals seeking career opportunities in foreign countries.
Government records showed that 15,850 Pakistanis had traveled abroad for employment in 2026.
Among these individuals, 681 were identified as highly qualified or skilled professionals.
The workers included doctors, engineers, information technology specialists, teachers, and professionals from other sectors.
Thousands of Educated Pakistanis Secure Overseas Employment
The government also shared details about highly educated Pakistanis who found employment abroad in previous years.
In 2025, approximately 28,726 highly educated Pakistanis secured jobs in foreign countries.
Of these individuals, 1,510 were classified as highly skilled workers.
Meanwhile, official records showed that 45,830 highly educated Pakistanis traveled overseas for employment in 2024.
The figures indicate that overseas employment opportunities continue to attract Pakistani professionals from different educational and technical backgrounds.
Gulf Countries Continue to Attract Pakistani Workers
The latest figures underline the significant role of Gulf countries in providing employment opportunities to Pakistani citizens.
Workers from Pakistan continue to seek jobs abroad across various professional and technical sectors.
The information presented in the National Assembly also highlights the movement of educated and skilled workers to international job markets.
The government has provided these statistics to inform lawmakers about overseas employment trends and the number of Pakistanis working abroad.
However, the reported figures mainly reflect workers traveling overseas for employment during the specified period.
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They should not be treated as a complete count of all Pakistani citizens currently employed in these countries.
