Situation of Migration and Potential Available to Reverse the Brain Drain — Case from Pakistan

Abstract

Like a typical developing country, Pakistan has been facing the challenge of losing its human resources to the more prosperous and developed countries. A sizable number of the of country's highly qualified and experienced professionals immigrate to the so-called Western and Middle Eastern regions for a wide variety of reasons. At best, this phenomenon generates some financial resources in the form of remittances sent by these overseas Pakistanis. But at worst, it constantly impoverishes the various types of enterprises, services and sectors that develop and invest in these professionals in the form of subsidized training/education at different levels. Brain drain is also governed by a multitude of influences generated locally as well as globally. Comparative monetary benefits, quality of life, perceptions of better prospects for future generations, social freedom and liberal atmosphere are some parameters that are crucial in affecting the decision making at the individual level. Different stakeholders respond to brain drain in very different ways. The most peculiar is the official viewpoint, which favors the whole situation. The governments consider brain drain as an economically productive phenomenon. Remittances and direct transactions generated by the highly qualified human resources are taken as an achievement, instead of an impending predicament in the way of national development.