According to the Ministry of Labour (MoL), the number of Pakistani labour migrants stands at 5.5 million with the majority working in the oil-rich Gulf countries. According to the Pakistan authorities, on an average an estimated 150,000 labour migrants leave the country each year, processed through the 1,150 licensed Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs). However, emigration from the country was recorded at over 280,000 in 2007 and over 430,000 in 2008.

Remittances have played a pivotal role in Pakistan's economic development during the last one decade (1999-2009). Remittances surged from less than one billion dollars to almost eight billion dollars during this period. With the exception of 2006-07, remittances have always been higher than the FDI; these have been almost 10 times the official development assistance that Pakistan received in the last one decade; and in the absence of remittances, the current account deficit would have been over $20 billion or 12 per cent of GDP in 2007-08 and $16.4 billion or 9.9 per cent of GDP in 2008-09.

Appointment of Community Welfare Attaches to Pakistani Missions in major destination countries

First ever National Policy for Overseas Pakistanis adopted in 2013

Various Welfare Schemes for Overseas Pakistanis through the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation

Foreigner’s Act 1946 (Amended in 2000)

Emigration Ordinance 1979

Emigration Rules 1979

Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance 2002

Passport Act 1974

Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development

Upcoming