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........

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