The National Emigration and Welfare Policy 2026 has been unveiled by the government of Pakistan, a comprehensive policy to enhance labour migration, safeguard the rights of over 12 million Pakistani expatriates and empower the workforce with skills in accordance with the changing demands of the global labour markets.
The policy was introduced by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain who said that it was a historic move to enhance the migration governance framework for Pakistan and reaffirm the government’s commitment to welfare and rights of Pakistanis going abroad for employment.
The minister said that the policy emphasises on the promotion of safe and orderly migration, providing access to internationally applicable skills, combating exploitation of migrant workers, increasing engagement with the Pakistani community abroad and ensuring dignified reintegration of returnees.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain said that the remittances of workers to Pakistan amounted to more than $41 billion in the last fiscal year, highlighting the contribution of overseas Pakistanis. He viewed the expatriate Pakistanis as the best representatives of Pakistan and again emphasised that the welfare of Pakistanis was always an important objective of the government.
The minister said that the world economies are undergoing a rapid change owing to advancement of technology, demographic changes and changing trends of global labour market and Pakistan’s economy should be sensitised to face the challenges of international competition and become a hub of skilled human resources.
The policy, he added, “gathers together under one umbrella national government institutions, training agencies, employers, development partners and the private sector to provide support for migrant workers at all levels of the migration process.”
In concluding, Chaudhry Salik Hussain suggested that migration be a symbol of opportunity, dignity and national progress, not uncertainty or vulnerability. He encouraged all the stakeholders to collaborate to make it easier for every Pakistani interested in going abroad and to work with pride and be in close touch with Pakistan.
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