PE Rawalpindi contributes record 26.45% to national manpower export; leads 2026 with 52,000 registrations

Rawalpindi, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2026) The Protectorate of Emigrants (PE) Rawalpindi has emerged as a key contributor to Pakistan’s overseas workforce, accounting for 26.45 percent of the total 763,526 citizens who proceeded abroad for employment in 2025.

Deputy Director PE Rawalpindi, Abdul Shakoor Soomro, while talking to media persons here on Saturday, revealed that the region's significant share underscores its pivotal role in providing manpower for the international job market. He noted that while 2025 saw a 5 percent overall increase in national emigrations, the Rawalpindi office's jurisdiction remained a major hub for workers from across Northern Pakistan, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Updating the figures for the current year, Soomro informed that until mid-April 2026, a total of 221,525 workers have already been registered nationwide, with the Rawalpindi office maintaining its lead by processing 52,000 registrations.

He stated that under the direct supervision of Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, and DG BEOE Javed Zia, the office is facilitating candidates with a streamlined process.

"Protector clearance is now issued within two to three hours, with data immediately integrated with embassies and the FIA," he added.

Detailing the 2025 regional statistics, Abdul Shakoor Soomro informed that 25,743 individuals were from Rawalpindi, 13,769 from Attock, 8,712 from Chakwal, 12,037 from Mandi Bahauddin, 8,092 from Islamabad, 27,422 from AJK, and 1,626 from Gilgit-Baltistan.

Regarding professional categories, he said the labor category led with 465,138 workers, followed by 163,718 drivers, technicians (12,703), and other skilled professionals including engineers and doctors.

The Deputy Director emphasized the importance of mandatory briefing sessions to educate emigrants on host country laws and culture. He urged workers to use only legal banking channels for remittances and advised citizens to process cases only through registered Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs).