Abdul Ghani

Pakistan experienced a slowdown in emigration during August 2025 even as domestic social protection and development programs expanded, according to the Finance Division’s Monthly Economic Update & Outlook – September 2025.

The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment registered 51,444 workers in August 2025, marking an 18.7 percent decline from 63,285 in July. Analysts suggest that while overseas employment remains a vital source of remittances, global job market conditions and domestic factors may be influencing the recent slowdown.

At the same time, local poverty alleviation and skill development initiatives gathered pace. The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), in collaboration with 26 partner organizations, disbursed 17,583 interest-free loans worth Rs.899 million in August alone. Since its launch in 2019, the PPAF has disbursed Rs.120.3 billion, supporting millions of low-income households across the country.

The report also noted that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research & Development Board signed a memorandum of understanding to train 3,000 BISP beneficiaries in market-relevant trades. The initiative aims to enhance employability, create sustainable livelihoods, and reduce dependence on cash transfers.

The Finance Division emphasized that while remittances remain crucial to the external account, strengthening domestic human development and employment generation is equally vital for sustainable growth. The report highlighted that such programs not only build resilience in rural and low-income communities but also help reduce the need for large-scale emigration in the long run.

Credit: INP-WealthPk