With more than 64 percent of its population under the age of 30, Pakistan has enormous potential. But as Kamran Khan notes in his vlog, that youthful energy is being lost to a growing exodus.
Every year, nearly half a million students graduate from Pakistani universities. Yet the country’s economy, plagued by structural issues and political instability, fails to absorb them.
According to Khan, Pakistan’s unemployment rate has reached 11.2 percent—pushing thousands of skilled, creative, and competent individuals to seek opportunities abroad.
“Whether it’s government incompetence or public distrust in the future of Pakistan, the reality is that millions are leaving,” Khan said.
According to data cited from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment and a survey by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), some 727,000 Pakistanis migrated abroad in 2024. That’s a decrease from the 862,000 who left in 2023, but Khan stresses that this isn’t due to renewed confidence in Pakistan.
Instead, he says, the drop reflects tighter immigration rules worldwide. “This is not a positive sign,” Khan said. “It means many are now taking greater risks.”
Those risks include illegal migration routes—popularly referred to as “dunki.” This term describes dangerous journeys via sea and land through multiple countries to reach Europe or other destinations. The United Nations Refugee Agency reports that in 2024 alone, more than 10,000 people died attempting to cross into Europe, mostly near Greece’s maritime borders. Among them were 44 Pakistanis who drowned near Spain’s Canary Islands on Jan. 2.
Even knowing the dangers and the lack of any guarantee of success, many Pakistanis remain undeterred.
“Why do people keep risking everything to leave?” Khan asked. “That’s the big question.”
Pakistan is not alone. Citizens of other emerging economies—India, China, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Indonesia—also seek lives abroad. Yet many of those countries reported strong GDP growth in the past year. India’s economy grew by 8.2 percent in 2024, yet it still has 35.4 million citizens living overseas.
Despite the loss of talent, there is a silver lining. Remittances sent by expatriates play a vital role in shoring up Pakistan’s foreign reserves.
According to Khan, Pakistan received a record $4.1 billion in remittances in March 2025 alone. The country is on track to receive $38 billion by year’s end. That would exceed the $34 billion recorded in 2024.
“Mass migration isn’t only negative,” Khan said. “It’s also a lifeline.”
“The future of Pakistan depends on whether we can give our young people a reason to stay,” Khan said.
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