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Pakistan's Job Crisis Fuels "Twin Dangers" of Unrest and Mass Exodus

A new report warns Pakistan faces the "twin dangers" of domestic unrest and accelerating outward migration due to its failure to generate sufficient jobs for its youth. The economy needs to create 2.5 to 3 million jobs annually but is hampered by macroeconomic instability and a struggling private sector. This has led to a record exodus, including thousands of doctors and over 7.6 lakh workers in 2025 alone. World Bank President Ajay Banga has cautioned that without urgent job creation, Pakistan risks becoming a source of instability.

Key Points: Pakistan's Unemployment Crisis Risks Unrest, Mass Migration

  • Must create 25-30M jobs in a decade
  • 4,000 doctors left in 2025 alone
  • Over 7.6 lakh Pakistanis left for work in 2025
  • Private sector generates 90% of jobs
  • Weak exports and FDI hinder growth
2 min read

Pak faces 'twin dangers' of domestic unrest, outward migration as unemployment grows

Report warns Pakistan faces domestic unrest and accelerating outward migration as it fails to create millions of needed jobs for its youth.

"If inequality is deepened, it will push more young Pakistanis to seek livelihoods abroad, hollowing out the country's human capital. - The Express Tribune"

New Delhi, Feb 7

As millions of young Pakistanis enter an economy that has struggled to expand, stalled by macroeconomic instability and policy uncertainty, the country faces "twin dangers" of domestic unrest and accelerating outward migration, a new report has warned.

Pakistan must generate between 25 and 30 million jobs over the next decade - about 2.5 to 3 million every year.

However, without a thriving private economy, job creation on the scale required is simply not possible, argues The Express Tribune in an editorial.

"If inequality is deepened, it will push more young Pakistanis to seek livelihoods abroad, hollowing out the country's human capital," it laments.

World Bank President Ajay Banga said recently that without urgent and sustained job creation, Pakistan risks becoming a source of instability rather than an economic dividend.

The consequences are already visible.

About 4,000 doctors left the country in 2025 alone, the highest annual outflow on record.

Even highly trained professionals see few incentives to stay amid poor working conditions and limited career prospects, said the report.

Moreover, the country is navigating an IMF stabilisation programme while preparing to implement a 10-year Country Partnership Framework with the World Bank, which envisages around $4 billion a year in combined public and private financing.

That framework recognises that the state has limited fiscal space and the private sector already generates 90 per cent of jobs.

"Meanwhile, the country's growing pool of freelancers shows clear entrepreneurial energy, but few are able to scale into firms that employ others, largely due to lack of credit, infrastructure and regulatory support," said the report.

More than 7.6 lakh Pakistanis left the country for work in 2025, a figure that highlights the growing economic stress and lack of job opportunities at home, according to the data by finance ministry's Monthly Economic Update and Outlook for January 2026.

The report showed weak performance in key areas such as exports, foreign direct investment (FDI) and overall growth.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Very sad to read. So many young people leaving their homeland. We in India also face job creation challenges, but our private sector is much more vibrant. Policy certainty is key for any economy to grow.
A
Aman W
The report mentions 7.6 lakh Pakistanis left for work in 2025. That's a massive number. This level of outward migration creates pressure on destination countries too. A stable Pakistan is in everyone's interest.
S
Sarah B
While the situation is concerning, I feel the article could have provided more comparative data with other South Asian nations. It's important to see this in a broader regional context, not in isolation.
V
Vikram M
The point about freelancers not being able to scale due to lack of credit is crucial. MSMEs are the backbone of job creation. Without supporting them, no economy can generate 3 million jobs a year. Hope they can turn it around.
K
Karthik V
World Bank President Ajay Banga's warning is stark. A nation of young people without jobs is indeed a source of instability. This affects the entire subcontinent. We need strong, growing economies all around for shared prosperity.

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