Pakistan is currently witnessing one of its largest talent exoduses, a phenomenon commonly known in English as 'Brain Drain', where skilled professionals migrate from their home country to other nations in search of better opportunities. Amidst a spiraling economy and political chaos, thousands of doctors, engineers, and accountants have left Pakistan over the past two years. According to a recent government report, Pakistan has lost approximately 5,000 doctors, 11,000 engineers, and 13,000 accountants in the last 24 months. This revelation has sparked widespread criticism of the government, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who recently dubbed this mass exodus as 'Brain Gain', has become a subject of ridicule on social media.
Even official statistics are refuting Asim Munir's grand statements. Former Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar highlighted the report in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating, 'Fix the politics, and the economy will fix itself. Pakistan is the world's fourth-largest freelancing hub, but the country faces a loss of $1.62 billion due to internet shutdowns, jeopardizing 2.37 million freelance jobs.'
Official Statistics Expose Munir's Claims
The recent report from Pakistan's Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment paints a worrying picture. According to the data, more than 727,000 Pakistanis registered for employment abroad in 2024, and by November 2025, this number had reached 687,000. Alarmingly, the exodus is no longer limited to laborers or those heading to Gulf countries for work but also includes a significant number of educated professionals leaving the nation.
Source: aajtak
The brain drain from Pakistan has had the most profound effect on the medical sector. Between 2011 and 2024, there has been a shocking 2,144% increase in the emigration of nurses from Pakistan. According to a report by the Pakistani newspaper 'The Express Tribune', this trend continues this year. The sudden brain drain of white-collar professionals has heightened the concerns of the Shehbaz Sharif government, which has imposed stricter controls at airports. Such is the situation that by 2025, 66,154 passengers were offloaded from Pakistani airports (prevented from going abroad), nearly doubling last year's number.
Additionally, thousands of Pakistanis have been deported from the Gulf and other regions for begging and illegal residence. In response, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced a ban on foreign travel for 'professional beggars' and travelers with incomplete documents.
Source: aajtak
Pakistanis Mock Asim Munir
Meanwhile, data related to the exodus of doctors and engineers has sparked a storm on social media in Pakistan. Many users recalled Asim Munir's August statement where he, speaking to Pakistani expatriates in the U.S., termed the emigration of educated youth and skilled professionals as 'Brain Gain', dismissing the notion of 'Brain Drain.' Now, Munir has become a figure of mockery among the youth and educated populace of his own country. Referring to the report by Pakistan's Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment, an X user mocked Asim Munir, writing, 'According to this mental patient, this is Brain Gain.'
Source: aajtak
Another X user wrote, 'They call it 'Brain Gain'... Such ignorance among them can bring disaster to the country, yet they appear full of pride and confidence like Yahya (General Yahya Khan).' PTI supporter Sajid Sikandar Ali from Imran Khan's party commented, 'Pakistan's brain drain is no secret. No industry, no research funding, no jobs. PhD holders return to empty labs, professionals to closed markets. You can't stop the flight of talent by tightening airport controls. They can only be stopped by offering better opportunities.'
Source: aajtak
Another X user, Asif, said that no educated or skilled person would want to stay in a country where dissent or criticism of the government could lead to kidnapping, torture, or even murder. It seems that alongside the shortage of skilled professionals in Pakistan, the gap between ground realities and statements from people like Asim Munir is only widening.
