Pakistan’s Brain Drain Dilemma: A Content Analysis

Abstract

The fundamental objective of this paper is to explore the causes and consequences of brain drain in Pakistan, and also test their validity in a scientific manner. Pakistan has been losing its precious human capital since 1960s. However, the trend has increased rapidly in the recent time. Reportedly 859,846 Pakistanis have left the country in 2023, among those 100,000 were professionals and skilled workers. The paper has interpreted the data in a qualitative manner and has used content analysis as a design to find the end results. It claims that economic meltdown, unemployment, political instability, and poor living and working conditions are the major causes, while loss of human talent, low growth, social unrest, and poor health and education services are the major consequence of brain drains in Pakistan. Hence, putting the economy on track, improving employment, achieving political stability and maintaining better living and working standards for the citizens, may help the government to retain the talent within.