For decades, the country has watched its brightest minds leave in search of stability, dignity and opportunity elsewhere. What began as a slow trickle has now become a sustained exodus, hollowing out sectors vital to national progress. Pakistan is not merely exporting labour; it is exporting its future.

Seeking higher education abroad is not the problem; choosing not to return is. What was once an investment in knowledge has increasingly turned into a permanent exit, raising serious concerns about Pakistan's ability to retain the very talent it helps create. When valuable professionals such as doctors, engineers, nurses and business experts leave their own country in times of need to serve elsewhere, despite those skills being most required at home, the loss is felt at the national level.

According to reports, 2024-25, more than 14.22 million Pakistanis have officially left the country for overseas employment since 1972. The vast majority — over 96% — head to Gulf Cooperation Council states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman. The year........

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