Overseas Pakistanis: Nation’s unsung heroes
SINCE the inception of Pakistan in 1947, the sons and daughters of the soil who ventured beyond its borders have remained deeply attached to their motherland.
These overseas Pakistanis, scattered across continents, have played a vital role in the development and prosperity of Pakistan—not merely through financial remittances, but also in the realms of philanthropy, advocacy, national image-building, and crisis support. Their story is not just one of expatriate or economic migration, but of sustained contribution, undying loyalty, and deep-seated patriotism. From the early 1970s, Pakistan saw a wave of migration, particularly towards the oil-rich Gulf countries. The decade marked the beginning of large-scale labour migration, with thousands of Pakistanis moving to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain. These workers—many of them unskilled or semi-skilled—helped build the infrastructure of Gulf cities, and in doing so, began to send back foreign exchange to Pakistan in unprecedented amounts. In 1974, the remittances stood at around $143 million. By the end of that decade, these had surged, and remittances became a crucial support for Pakistan’s balance of payments.
In the 1980s, the trend deepened. As the number of Pakistani workers grew, particularly in the Gulf, so too did the foreign exchange inflows. The decade saw annual remittances crossing $2 billion. The Middle East remained the primary destination, but migration to Europe also rose. Pakistani communities in the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, France, and Italy became more organized, with many becoming second-generation migrants. In the UK alone, the Pakistani community grew steadily, becoming one of the largest ethnic groups. These communities sent remittances, built schools and mosques back home, and contributed to local development in their villages and towns. The 1990s witnessed diversification. While the Gulf continued to absorb Pakistani workers, migration towards North America and Canada saw significant acceleration. Educated professionals, IT specialists, doctors, and engineers began settling in the United States and Canada. By the end of the 1990s, remittances had reached $1.2 billion per annum—a figure which, though slightly lower than the 1980s due to informal transfer channels like Hundi.
The 2000s saw a technological transformation in the financial world. With the introduction of formal channels and stricter regulations post-9/11, more remittances began to flow through official banking systems. By 2009–10, Pakistan was receiving over $8 billion annually in foreign remittances. The Diaspora in the Gulf, UK, USA, and Canada had now grown in size and stature. Moreover, this period saw the emergence of overseas Pakistani philanthropic organizations—raising funds for disaster relief after the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods. Charitable initiatives helped build hospitals, schools, roads, and provided emergency relief. The Diaspora emerged not just as financial supporters, but as partners in nation-building.
The 2010s and beyond marked a golden era of overseas contributions. Officially, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis in December 2017 estimated about 8.8 million Pakistanis living abroad. By 2023, the Ministry of Emigration and Overseas Employment reported that well over 10.8 million had migrated since 1990. The United Nations places Pakistan among the six countries with the largest Diaspora globally. A widely cited breakdown from 2021 holds that over 4.7 million now dwell in the Middle East, 1.6 million in Britain, followed by the United States, Canada, and Europe.
With remittances rising each year, 2022 recorded an all-time high of over $31 billion, making Pakistan one of the top five recipient countries globally. Saudi Arabia contributed around $8 billion, the UAE about $6 billion, followed by the UK ($4.5 billion) and the USA ($3 billion). Today, over 9 million Pakistanis live abroad—2.64 million in Saudi Arabia, 1.5 million in the UAE, over 1.5 million in the UK, 1.2 million in the USA, around 300,000 in Canada, over 200,000 in Italy, and tens of thousands in France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Greece, Australia, Malaysia, and South Africa.
Apart from remittances, overseas Pakistanis have played a heroic role in charitable initiatives. They were among the first responders during national calamities—donating generously during the 2010 and 2022 floods, COVID-19 relief campaigns, and in countless medical and educational projects. Philanthropists among them have even helped retire Pakistan’s external debt. Institutions like Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Edhi Foundation, Indus Hospital, and numerous orphanages and schools have benefited from their generosity.
Their role in promoting Pakistan’s soft image abroad cannot be overstated. Pakistani professionals, academics, and businesspersons have served as ambassadors of goodwill—challenging stereotypes, promoting cultural exchange, and building bridges of understanding. From Silicon Valley to the British Parliament, Canadian think tanks to European humanitarian organizations, Pakistanis have made their mark with dignity and competence. Over a dozen British-Pakistanis, including Sajid Javid, Sadiq Khan, Yasmin Qureshi, and Imran Hussain, have served as Members of Parliament. In Canada, several have been elected to legislatures, while in Norway, leaders like Abid Raja have held ministerial positions.
In conclusion, overseas Pakistanis have been more than remitters of money. They are silent builders of the economy, quiet benefactors of institutions, and unsung heroes of national tragedies and triumphs—steadfast, sincere, and selfless, never ceasing to pray, work, and hope for the homeland they carry in their hearts.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.
(ememiqbal68@gmail.com)
