A new migration report says Pakistan’s migrant outflow fell in 2024 mainly because of tighter visa restrictions and policy shifts in destination countries. It also recorded a sharp rise in remittances and highlighted persistent gender and skills gaps.

LAHORE: A new migration report launched at the Lahore School of Economics says the number of Pakistanis leaving for work abroad dropped in 2024 after a sharp rise a year earlier, with the decline linked mainly to tighter visa restrictions and policy changes in destination countries.

The findings were presented at the launch of The Pakistan Migration Report 2025, the fourth report in a series published by the Centre on Migration, Remittances and Diaspora at the Lahore School of Economics. The report examines recent migration trends from Pakistan to Gulf states and other destinations, along with remittance flows and policy issues affecting migrants.

International Organisation for Migration Pakistan Chief of Mission Mio Sato, speaking at the event, described migration as a major development reality globally and said it held particular importance for Pakistan. She stressed the need to prioritise regular migration channels and said migration should be a matter of choice rather than compulsion. She also outlined measures for safer and more dignified migration from Pakistan, including skills training aligned with international labour market needs, greater awareness of migration opportunities and risks at every stage, and policy responses based on evidence.

Sato also pointed to gender disparities in migration, saying women remain under-represented in international labour migration not because of a lack of opportunities, but because of obstacles including social norms, weak access to recruitment networks and unsafe working conditions.

Lahore School of Economics Rector Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhry opened the ceremony and described migration as an important subject for study at all levels, especially in Pakistan’s context. He said the country depended heavily on the outside world for consumption and workers’ remittances.

Outflow fluctuates, Gulf remains dominant

According to the report, migrant outflow from Pakistan fell from 862,000 in 2023 to 725,672 in 2024, before edging up to 762,499 in 2025. It says outward migration has remained uneven over time, but attributes the recent decline primarily to visa restrictions and policy shifts in host countries.

The report says Gulf countries continue to receive the overwhelming majority of registered Pakistani migrant workers, accounting for 92 percent of the total. Saudi Arabia remained the leading destination, drawing half of all migrants.

At the same time, the report notes that remittance inflows are relatively higher from non-GCC countries, which it says may reflect either the presence of higher-wage migrants or under-reporting in migrant numbers. It also highlights a broadening of migration patterns beyond the Gulf, with countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and some emerging Asian economies recording increased inflows of Pakistani migrants.

Skills profile, women workers and irregular migration

A major finding in the report is that about two-thirds of Pakistani labour migrants are still classified as low-skilled or unskilled. Their combined share increased by 12 percent in 2025, according to the report.

Women’s participation in the migrant labour force remained very low, at just one percent of the total, the report says.

It also identifies irregular migration as an ongoing concern, particularly in Europe, and says Pakistan is among the top 10 nationalities entering Europe illegally. The report says 5,680 Pakistanis were apprehended at different European borders in 2024, while 3,203 were detained in the first half of 2025. About 90 percent of them were attempting to enter by sea.

The report says tighter migration rules in major destination countries, rising visa fees, higher rejection rates and stricter labour market conditions are reducing opportunities for Pakistani migrants. It adds that these constraints on regular migration are contributing to more irregular movement through dangerous routes.

Remittances rise sharply

The report records a 25 percent increase in officially documented remittance inflows, from $30.2 billion in 2023-24 to $38.3 billion in 2024-25. It says this increase has played an important role in supporting economic stability and helping the country avoid balance-of-payments pressure at a time of rising imports and stagnant exports.

According to the report, remittances now make up 9.34 percent of gross domestic product. It links the increase in remittances to higher migration levels in recent years and a shift towards more skilled workers. It also says high inflation reduced the real incomes of households, increasing pressure on migrants to send more money home.

Other speakers at the launch included CIMRAD Director Dr Rashid Amjad, GIDS Dr Fareeha Zafar and Lahore School of Economics Research and Teaching Fellow Zahra Mughis.