Brain Drain Surges as 1.87 Million Educated Pakistanis Leave in Three Years, Hamid Mir Warns
ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir has expressed serious concern over the growing brain drain from Pakistan, warning that the country’s current conditions are leaving educated and skilled professionals increasingly frustrated and prompting more people to seek opportunities abroad.
Sharing a news report on social media, Mir highlighted official figures presented in the National Assembly showing that more than 1.87 million highly educated and professionally skilled Pakistanis had left the country over the past three years in search of better employment, economic stability and a secure future.
According to the report, those leaving Pakistan include doctors, nurses, engineers, IT specialists, managers, teachers and professionals from various other fields.
The figures indicated that the highest number of Pakistanis went abroad in 2024, when more than 830,000 people reportedly left the country. In 2025, approximately 726,000 highly educated Pakistanis moved abroad for employment, while 15,850 people had left in 2026 so far, according to the reported data.
تین سال میں 18 لاکھ پڑھے لکھے افراد پاکستان چھوڑ کر چلے گئے جنہوں نے ابھی نہیں چھوڑا انکے لئے بھی ایسے حالات پید کئے جا رہے ہیں وہ بھی یہ ملک چھوڑ جائیں https://t.co/GgTUtxaFiS
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) October 17, 2026
Reacting to the figures, Hamid Mir described the departure of around 1.8 million educated Pakistanis within three years as a tragedy for the country.
He warned that conditions were also being created for those who had not yet left Pakistan to consider moving abroad.
The senior journalist’s remarks have brought renewed attention to concerns about the loss of skilled human resources, as professionals seek better career prospects, economic security and improved living conditions overseas.
The reported figures have also intensified debate over the need to create better employment opportunities, ensure economic stability and provide a more encouraging environment for educated young people and skilled professionals to build their futures in Pakistan.
