What’s Driving Pakistan’s Middle Class Brain Drain?

A growing number of skilled workers are leaving Pakistan, seeking opportunities abroad as their country faces one of Asia’s highest inflation rates, rising food and energy prices and a devalued currency.

To address the dire economic situation, the government has implemented unpopular reforms, including raising corporate tax rates and utility prices. These measures are part of Pakistan’s latest $7 billion loan deal with the International Monetary Fund, aimed at averting national bankruptcy.

But the result of all this has been an increasing number of would-be taxpayers emigrating to wealthier nations. So what does that mean for the country’s economic and political prospects?

00:00 Introduction
01:18 Growing pessimism
02:32 Brain drain
03:08 Asad’s story
04:26 Economic situation
05:40 The tax problem
07:22 Relationship with the IMF

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[ViperVizier]

Let's be honest. There is no more middle class. There is only upper class and low class. You could be making a middle class income but the cost is so high, you'll essentially be living paycheck to paycheck.

[VivekGunda-rodt]

The most lucrative job in Pakistan is serving in the Pakistani army. Because every country has an army, the Pakistani army seems to have a whole country. 😂

[MBHpower]

As a Pakistani, it's because our government cares about their mansions and mistresses same as the army that actually controls our country I'm someone from the educated middle class and I plan to leave as well. I want to help my country but it just seems untenable and hopeless.

[Sindhu_Jatt]

*Regrettably, Bloomberg did not elaborate on the primary drivers behind this brain drain, notably the significant role of Pakistan's military leadership.*

[ishaquealidad]

Why should we pay taxes if the government has failed to provide basic necessities of life like drinking water, transportation, health care, etc.?

[comradejackso]

this is what is happening to my country Kenya, the corrupt government has made it near impossible for talented youth to get any meaningful employment. Companies hutting down, corruption off the roof, cost of living unbearable. A mass migration will soon hit Kenya and the government will be left with just their corrupt counterparts to tax

[JohnKiragu-em]

That's the 'final revelation' at its best.
Islam is the reason why Pakistan has failed.

[carolinalipachakybaloch]

Center of gravity is the actual reason behind it..😂😂

[aware.malayali]

As an Indian, I believe it’s important to look beyond rivalry and recognize that a stable and prosperous neighbor is beneficial for the entire region. To those who take satisfaction in Pakistan’s current economic struggles, remember that instability next door can impact us all.

Let’s hope their economy recovers and grows stronger in the coming years. Positive growth for our neighbors means a more peaceful and thriving South Asia for everyone.

[omiiqa]

Never in the history of this country injustice has prevailed at this level. Young population who is almost 60-70% of this country have always wanted change by vote, in recent polls young population voted for Khan but establishment stole the election and gave the power to the same corrupt families of bhuttoes and sharifs against whom khan was fighting all his political life. We have never seen such kind of censorship in Pakistan before even during the reign of dictators, young people who demonstrated against military are now facing military courts which is totally illegal. Everyone who speaks against military is immediately picked up by agencies with there houses and businesses demolished and they have no further right to live in this country, there is even the talk of canceling the passports and ids of overseas Pakistanis who speak up or protest abroad. Such is the level of destruction going on in Pakistan by the hand of corrupt military establishment who are supposed to protect the borders but are busy in making money by doing business

[Broody-cqyl]

The overlords in military and bureaucracy just dont care who leaves or doesn’t, because those people are getting their quota of loot and their own families are well fed.

[irfangowani]

Being a Pakistani, everywhere I see people want to leave Pakistan. This is their aim of life these days.

[alikhanmoazzam]

we lived through 2005 to 2014 period when almost 50, 000 people died due to terrorism but still we stayed as there was optimism, but since the change of govt there is deep rooted pessimism in country despite security situation being much better, Pakistan is home to 60 million + middle class with large english speaking population but government has failed to tap in the potential broken trust of millions, as doctor almost half of my batchmate now work in UK Ireland USA as Physicians such a loss to Pakistan

[purechz]

Im Sri Lankan, not just in Pakistan. it's literally in every South Asian country. We've been independent since the '40s, but our economies have only been going backward. Immigration is only a logical solution as it doesn't matter if you are a well-educated individual with a stable income when your country is so unstable that you can trust a ball balanced on top a needle more than the government itself.

[wajahat]

The real culprit is the Military Establishment of Pakistan

[Charles-mquqi]

Pakistan Zindabad ❌️

Pakistan se Zinda bhaag ✅️

[muhammedk]

Its the same situation everywhere. I'm from South Africa. Even UK, Australia, Canada is suffering from a similar situation. Your salary, which was once enough to live comfortably, is no longer enough, despite the CPI increases. Despite this, the rich guys are getting wealthier.

Capitalism is slowly falling apart, and there is no running away for the middle class.

[daanishpadha]

With 4th worst passport in the world, its hard to move as well. Pakistanis just like others deserve better.

[Rana_masab]

I am pakistani, On 8th November I am going to Saudi Arabia for work, I am civil engineer but now I am unemployed since 2 years

[shershaah]

People are leaving due to religious intolerance, excessive military intervention, and an unstable political situation. They are fighting to re-enforce religious law in the place where they took refuge.