The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD) plans to increase skilled immigration to 60 percent by 2027, aiming to boost annual remittances from $30 billion to $45 billion.
Pakistan’s labor force stands at 72 million, with a 6.3 percent unemployment rate, mainly affecting youth aged 15-34. Each year, between 600,000 to 800,000 Pakistanis migrate abroad, with 96 percent heading to the Middle East. Currently, 44 percent of these immigrants are skilled, but the government aims to raise this figure by 10 percent to maximize foreign remittances.
According to a Ministry of Overseas document, a meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office discussed the strategy. The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BE&OE) has reported a demand for 978,265 overseas jobs. The ministry emphasized the need for coordination among stakeholders, including PMDC, PNMC, PEC, HEC, NAVTTC, provincial TEVTAs, PSEB, and NUML, to align workforce policies with global market demands.
All relevant institutions have been directed to develop plans to capture maximum overseas employment opportunities. The strategy involves aligning curricula with international standards, obtaining global accreditation for Pakistani qualifications, and increasing enrollment in skill-based training programs. The government aims to improve workforce competitiveness to meet rising global demand.
NAVTTC and provincial TEVTAs have been instructed to provide data on annual student pass-out rates, skill-specific enrollments, and international labor market needs. They must also establish agreements with international accreditation bodies, introduce modern training modules, and increase international certifications. These measures are expected to significantly enhance Pakistan’s skilled workforce and remittance inflows.
A high-level meeting has been called under the chairmanship of the Secretary OP&HRD at the Pak Secretariat in Islamabad to review stakeholder proposals. Senior officials have been asked to present their plans, which will later be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.
