While on a phone call with my friend recently, who is an Erasmus Mundus Scholar, I learned that Pakistan has topped this year’s list of scholarship recipients for the third consecutive year.
Given that this is one of the world’s most prestigious scholarships to pursue a Masters degree in Europe, this should have been news to be celebrated with great jubilation. However, when considered alongside other factors, such as increased emigration, reduced public trust in the government, and overseas students continuing to pursue careers abroad, it presents a problematic issue for policymakers.
It also raises the question of whether this contributes to brain drain, as often argued by critics of overseas migration. The term has become a buzzword in Pakistan over the last two years as the economic and political situation deteriorated significantly. The circumstances have prompted many Pakistanis, particularly young people, to leave the country, in search of better opportunities abroad. ‘Brain drain’ is often used as a measure of a country’s inability to prevent emigration and retain its talented citizens.
However, the merits of emigration in the context of Pakistan’s economic and political conditions are undeniable. Contrary to the concept of ‘brain drain’, many scholars argue that outward migration can be seen as ‘brain gain’, since the phenomenon is not inherently negative. Pakistan, the fifth most populous nation, with 150 million citizens between the ages of 16 and 44 actively seeking employment opportunities, should recognize all possible avenues to relieve the local labour market.
While better opportunities for labourers abroad are beneficial for Pakistan in many ways, scholars critical of the migration of highly skilled professionals, including engineers, doctors, scientists, and researchers, argue that it creates a vacuum in the highly productive sectors of the local economy. This is a significant concern for countries like Pakistan, which actively invest in and subsidize education for these professionals, expecting them to contribute to national growth yet struggling to retain them.
As Pakistan strives to become a competitive economy -- one where wealth is not concentrated in the hands of few, and businesses thrive -- both labourers and professionals are drawn to appealing opportunities in the Gulf States. The phenomenon has long played a role in stabilizing Pakistan’s Current Account Balance. In 2023 alone, overseas Pakistanis contributed significantly to remittances, amounting up to $26 billion, helping Pakistan meet its financial obligations in global trade, which relies heavily on the US dollar.
Apart from the remittances that these emigrants contribute to their country, students and professionals living abroad also gain exposure to global facilities and ecosystems, which they can leverage to enhance their skills. This has proven instrumental in the past as seen in the success of companies like Systems Limited, NETSOL, and Motive, which were built by overseas Pakistanis who utilized their international education and business networks abroad for the benefit of their homeland. Scientists trained at various universities in the US and Europe also contributed to innovation at home, Dr Abdul Qadeer and Dr Raziuddin Siddiqui being among the most prominent examples.
It is not just about the significant work these professionals can contribute back home; they also serve as informal ambassadors for the country, fostering networks with global scientists, business leaders and experts for potential collaborations that benefit Pakistan much like the Indian and Chinese diaspora that helped establish IT industries in their respective countries.
Indian professionals have risen to the highest positions in American corporations with CEOs like Sundar Pichai of Alphabet Inc and Satya Nadella of Microsoft. And China’s diaspora, often referred to as ‘sea turtles’, returned with advanced technical knowledge and international exposure to help build companies like Huawei, and Tencent.
The vibrant and accomplished Indian diaspora has been instrumental in advancing national development by acting as ambassadors and lobbyists in Western capitals. India’s image and soft power have also improved as a result. Pakistan, too, can leverage the expertise and networks of its talented professionals working abroad in high-tech companies to accelerate growth in the IT sector at home.
It is, therefore, important that we recognize emigration not purely as a loss but as an opportunity to harness the ‘brain gain’ for the economic and diplomatic benefits it can bring back to the country.
In the long term, the focus should be on policies that create economic opportunities at home, offer necessary protections, improve business processes and encourage the diaspora to return to Pakistan and serve the country with the skills and networks they have developed abroad.
It is important we recognize emigration not purely as a loss but as an opportunity to harness the ‘brain gain’ for the economic and diplomatic benefits it can bring back to the country
The writer is a researcher at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Lahore. He can be reached at: infocasslhr.com