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Can Uraan Pakistan make a difference?

By Dr Hassan Daud Butt
13 January, 2025

Over the past few decades, globalisation has significantly expanded trade and travel. Enhanced communication and ease of movement have led to both opportunities and challenges for developing countries, particularly the phenomenon of brain drain with large-scale emigration of skilled professionals, academics, and experts.

Can Uraan Pakistan make a difference?

Over the past few decades, globalisation has significantly expanded trade and travel. Enhanced communication and ease of movement have led to both opportunities and challenges for developing countries, particularly the phenomenon of brain drain with large-scale emigration of skilled professionals, academics, and experts.

Pakistan has experienced a noticeable wave of talented young individuals seeking better career prospects abroad, especially over the past decade. Key drivers of this migration include ongoing political instability, economic challenges, and a shortage of professional growth opportunities at home. This talent outflow represents a significant loss, as it depletes the nation’s most valuable asset, its human capital nurtured through public investment and private efforts.

However, with rising trends of protectionism, deglobalisation, and increasing political barriers to free movement, global talent flows may be reduced or may shift toward regional migration patterns, with countries forming regional economic clusters. In many countries with ageing populations, the demand for skilled talent will persist despite growing restrictions on migration requiring a focused approach for talent preparation and skill acquisition.

As reported, Pakistan has experienced a significant wave of emigration over the past five years, including over 500,000 IT professionals and engineers who left the country in 2019 in search of green pastures. While in 2020 the number dropped, in 2023, emigration increased to 862,625, with doctors and engineers making up a sizable proportion. This pattern demonstrates the ongoing loss of highly trained professionals. While the negative impact of brain drain is undeniable, it is not an irreversible phenomenon. If addressed carefully, brain drain can turn into brain gain, creating a cycle in which talent flows both to and forth. Through purposeful, long-term efforts of stakeholders such as the government, the private sector, and civil society.

Countries like India, China and regions like ASEAN show us that brain drain doesn’t have to be a permanent loss rather it can be turned into a real opportunity. Well-designed policies aimed at preserving human capital, combined with effective implementation, can transform brain drain into brain gain within a decade. A strategy that encourages qualified workers to freely travel between their home countries and other countries and enables individuals to get significant international experience, build worldwide networks, and develop expertise while also contributing to their home economies through mentorship, knowledge exchange, and investments.

These countries have discovered methods to reconnect with their people overseas by providing incentives, establishing research hubs, and building welcoming avenues for competent people to return. In China, for example, many talented individuals have come back home, bringing fresh ideas, new skills, and valuable experience. As a result, technology has advanced dramatically, and the economy has grown significantly. These success stories serve as a reminder that migration is not one-way; it may lead to creativity and advancement for all. By establishing government-backed incentives, research parks, and policies that attract returning talent, these countries have seen a steady influx of professionals returning home, bringing with them enhanced expertise gained abroad, thereby significantly contributing to the country's technological and economic advancement.

Countries like India, China and regions like ASEAN show us that brain drain doesn’t have to be a permanent loss rather it can be turned into a real opportunity. Well-designed policies aimed at preserving human capital, combined with effective implementation, can transform brain drain into brain gain within a decade

Vietnam is also pursuing a similar strategy, allowing diasporas to stay involved and contribute to national growth. These examples highlight how converting brain drain into brain gain benefits both individuals and their home countries.

Pakistan, in particular, can benefit from developing its own version of this cyclical model. Initiatives like URAAN Pakistan which has the potential to have a transformative impact through the 5Es National Economic Transformation Plan can also set the platform for such a brain gain plan. Since the initiative aims to rejuvenate Pakistan’s economy, promote sustainable development, and drive inclusive growth and focus on skill-based training and capacity building, there is a promising possibility of how such a model can be put into practice. By promoting human capital development plans and programs that bridge the gap between local and international opportunities, Pakistan can begin to engage its diaspora and tap into the potential of promoting and eventually returning talent.

The solution does not lie in keeping talent from leaving, but in creating an environment where acquiring skills and talent becomes a convenient and beneficial cycle. Pakistan and other countries in the region can reverse the flow of brain drain by developing opportunities for information exchange, mentorship, and investment. Within the same effort, Pakistan's government might establish a National Youth Council under URAAN Pakistan to improve communication with emigrants and encourage well-paying job opportunities in the private and public sectors alike. This approach, which has worked well in other countries, could encourage Pakistani professionals to return home after gaining valuable international experience.

Pakistan’s educational system also needs to be strengthened and aligned with global market demands. The creation of knowledge parks, tech clusters, and research grants are essential steps toward harnessing talent. We need to further expand and develop partnerships between universities and industries for skill alignment with market needs.

But for all this to happen, organisations like the HEC, the TVET institutions and the education attaches in our embassies need to promote and foster a culture that first identifies then values its talent and lastly the government creates enabling professionals to contribute their skills both abroad and back home. Modern vocational schools and training centres equipped with advanced technology, simulation labs, state-of-the-art equipment for hands-on skill development in sectors like manufacturing, construction, eco-tourism, agri-tech, and robotics can be incentivised both in public and private sectors.

We can negotiate with China for the establishment of vocational training centres under CPEC for skill development aligned with global standards. A Gwadar vocational and training centre can be a good stepping stone. This may also include working with Chinese policy think tanks and collaboration with academic institutions for evolving curricula in the TVET sector. We also need to establish a national talent database to track skills and qualifications across the diaspora. With the appropriate policies, such as diaspora engagement programmes and skill-building efforts, Pakistan may create a long-term model of brain gain that promotes innovation, economic progress, and prosperity.

Investing in education, engaging the diaspora and implementing forward-thinking policies can transform challenges into opportunities for innovation and economic growth. Collaborative efforts among government, private sectors, and civil society are essential to create a sustainable framework for brain gain. Long-term problems demand long-term solutions, and with a united approach, Pakistan can harness its human capital to drive national and global progress.

I hope a debate on a charter of education sector development can also be prioritised in mainstream media as this is an issue for Pakistan and not just any individual party and if we do not take pragmatic steps we may be at an unrepairable level in terms of competitiveness, growth and talent retention.

Lastly, a holistic approach emphasising education, employment, and governance reforms can effectively reduce brain drain while enhancing brain gain.


The writer is an associate professor and senior advisor to CEEC. He has served as a diplomat in China and has been a former CEO of KPBoIT. He can be reached at: hdb4049@gmail.com