The Government of Pakistan has set an ambitious target for 2026, under which 800,000 foreign employment opportunities will be secured for the country’s citizens. This figure is higher than the projected human resource export of 740,000 by 2025, reflecting the growing demand for Pakistani workers abroad. Most of these opportunities are expected to be found in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This initiative will help strengthen the country’s economy, especially through remittances, which is an important source of foreign exchange.
Why is the number of jobs abroad being increased?
The Government of Pakistan is continuously increasing foreign employment opportunities for its citizens so that the country’s economy can be strengthened and unemployment can be reduced. The target of 800,000 jobs in 2026 is 60,000 more than the human resource export of 740,000 in 2025. This increase reflects the increasing demand for Pakistani workers in the Gulf countries and other regions.
| Year | Workers sent abroad (estimated) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 740,000 |
| 2026 | 800,000 |
What major changes have been made?
To support this initiative, the government is implementing a number of reforms:
Skill Development Programme: Soft-skill training programs are being run in collaboration with Korea and Japan to increase the competitiveness of workers.
Reduction in age limit for women: The minimum age requirement for women seeking employment abroad has been reduced from 35 to 25 years.
Improvement in dispatch system: Remittance systems have been improved through State Bank of Pakistan’s ‘Raast’ payment platform, which will enable exchange companies to facilitate instant remittances to beneficiaries’ bank accounts and digital wallets.
What will be the benefit to the economy from these steps?
Pakistani workers working abroad contribute significantly to the economy through remittances. For example, a Pakistani worker working in Korea currently remits an average of $1,800 per month to Pakistan. Exchange companies, which facilitate remittances, bring foreign exchange inflows of up to $4.5 billion into the country annually. Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain has stressed that these comprehensive reforms are aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Overseas Pakistanis, promoting skill development and creating better employment opportunities.
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Last Updated: 19 January 2026
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