Pakistani diaspora
Overseas Pakistanis (Urdu: بیرون ملک پاکستانی نژاد), or the Pakistani diaspora, refers to Pakistanis who live outside of Pakistan. These include citizens that have migrated to another country as well as people born abroad of Pakistani descent. According to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, approximately 8.8 million Pakistanis live abroad according to December 2017 estimates. According to the Ministry of Emigration and Overseas Employment, data released in 2023 states that more than 10.80 million people have moved abroad since 1990. [2]
Total population
2,714,684 (2019-2020 estimate)[1]
1,600,000 (2019-2020 estimate)[1]
918,982 (2011 census)[3]
629,946 (official 2021 census)[4]
339,033 (2020 estimate)[5]
303,260 (2021 official census)[6]
250,092 (2020 estimate)[5]
140,000 (2022 official)[8]
134,492 (2021 official)[9]
117,000 (2019-2020 estimate)[1]
221,432 (2015 estimate)[5]
108,710 (2022 official)[10]
89,633 (2021 official census)[11]
46,300 (2023 official)[13]
34,177 (2011 official census)[14]
29,387 (2019 official)[15]
27,292 (2022 official)[16]
27,261 (2022 official)[17]
26,714 (2023 official estimate)[18]
The vast majority, over 4.7 million, reside in the Middle East.[21][22] The second-largest community, at around 1.2 million, live in the United Kingdom, followed by the United States (especially New York City, Chicago, and New Jersey) in third place. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Pakistan has the 6th largest diaspora in the world.[23] In 2021, overseas Pakistanis sent record remittances with growth at 26 percent and levels reaching US$33 billion in 2021.[24]
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development is a ministry of the Government of Pakistan that oversees matters concerning Overseas Pakistanis and human resource development in Pakistan. Pir Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi is the current minister.[60] The ministry was created in June 2013, from a merger of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis[61][62] and the Ministry of Human Resource Development.[63] which was established in 2008. The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment appoints Community Welfare Attachés around the world to establish and maintain close contacts with the foreign firms who are in need of manpower for their ventures in different countries, and to aid in the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. CWAs are currently located in:[64]
The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) was established July 1979, with its head office at Islamabad and regional offices in all provincial capitals as well as Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The objective of the OPF is to advance the welfare of the Pakistanis working or settled abroad and their families in Pakistan by identifying their problems and contributing to their solutions. These include health care, financial aid, foreign exchange remittance, and education.[65] The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation operates more than 24 schools in and across Pakistan, offering preschool, primary, secondary, and preparation for local SSC and the international GCE education. Most of its students opt to take the GCE O and AS/A Levels organized by the CIE of UCLES. It also has established international projects in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. The head office of the OPF school is located in Islamabad, administering the system through six main regional offices: