Source: The Economist
In a lecture in 2009, research economist Abid Ali Abid made a bold statement, noting that hardly any country has suffered more from the ‘brain drain’ than Pakistan. In 2008, All Things Pakistan cited a Gallup survey that found that 62 percent of adults surveyed “expressed the desire to migrate abroad while 38 percent said that they would prefer to settle outside permanently.” It’s an interesting debate, for sure. Below, Abdul Samad, a student at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, delves further into this topic:
The recent past has seen the emergence of a rather disturbing trend. Too often, the talented youth of Pakistan seek their fortunes in foreign lands, in their misguided belief that their country can give them anything but success. This trend, also known as brain drain, is robbing the nation of the next crop of engineers, doctors and economists. In the age of globalization and outsourcing, the West is able to attract the finest minds of the world with ease. This is partly due to the widely held belief that escaping the country is the ticket to prosperity and advancement in life. The one who escapes alive from all the violence and bloodshed has truly safeguarded his future. Visit the villages of Pakistan where poverty and unemployment have brought people to the brink of starvation. Meet the youth in such impoverished areas, and it is striking how badly they want to leave this country.
Is our country that dreadful that people will do almost anything to get a US visa? Is this why the Muslims of the subcontinent demanded a separate homeland, so that after 60 years of its creation escaping from it becomes the method of salvation in life?
The most ironic factor is that the very people who refuse to do any form of work in Pakistan end up getting jobs in restaurants and petrol pumps abroad. For them, just the fact that they get paid in dollars overrides all the relations and bonds they have left behind. Money transcends love. Money overpowers human morality, the innate goodness present in every one of us. By no means, is this a life of happiness. Not by a long shot. The soul is free where the heart is and that undoubtedly is in your homeland. Whatever one does in life, wherever one goes, it is not possible to forget the land that you were born in.
Pakistan has been defiled and tainted by the Western media, and we have come to be recognized as a country of marked people. Not a day goes by without mention of some bomb attack or a suicide bombing. Everything, at once, seems to be going horribly wrong. Ministers are killed in broad daylight; the country’s sovereignty is breached on a daily basis, starvation and suicides have risen meteorically and politicians continue to make a fool of themselves.
Amidst all this madness, it becomes easy to stop loving your country with the intensity that was seen at the time of Partition.
Let me give you my own example. I too went abroad, in the pursuit of education that I knew that even the finest institution in Pakistan could not offer. The opportunity was one that only a fool would reject. So I went. It can be said that you only come to recognize the value of your homeland when you are deprived of it. Although I was psychically distant from Pakistan, my heart was always there. Most people, after going abroad, tend to forget their origins.
Paradoxically, my appreciation only grew when I spent time studying abroad. No matter what happens, my love for my homeland and the inextricable bond with it would never diminish or fade away.
While the current plight of the country makes me sad, it bears telling that there is hope for the future. And it is this very hope that allows so many Pakistanis to wake up each day in the morning, ready to fight intolerance and extremism. If we were to work hard in our own country, and let go of the conviction that one should only work hard whilst abroad, the prospect of rapid change cannot be ruled out. This inexorable infatuation with the West needs to end, for even Pakistan can become the epitome of prosperity and development, but only if we are ready to change ourselves for the better.
The contribution is the sole opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the opinion of CHUP. If you would like to contribute a piece to CHUP, please email Kalsoom at changinguppakistan[at]gmail[dot]com. Pieces should be no longer than 800 words please. For past contributions, click here.
Arguably the douchiest post I’ve seen in a while. Obviously written by a privileged Pakistani, who like his peers, is out of touch with the rest of the country.
This excerpt is the kicker:
“The most ironic factor is that the very people who refuse to do any form of work in Pakistan end up getting jobs in restaurants and petrol pumps abroad.”
It’s insulting that you call these people lazy. They go abroad, put their nose to the grindstone working minimum wage jobs in countries with high costs of living — and what do they do with their money? They REPATRIATE it. They send it back to Pakistan.
And can you blame them for leaving Pakistan? A place where the system is anything but a meritocracy, where hard work is rarely rewarded? A system that is perpetuated by Pakistan’s wealthy to exploit the poor?
These people are HUNGRY. Hungry both in a literal and figurative sense. They’re hungry for food, for opportunity, for a better life.
Not to mention, going abroad makes complete sense. When your country has equipped you with so few skills that you’re relegated to menial work — you’re going to want to go abroad.
Simple economics, bucko (see: Balassa–Samuelson). A job pumping gas in the States is going to pay a lot more than a job pumping gas in Pakistan, in real terms.
In my opinion, get as many Pakistanis out of Pakistan as you can — that’s the best way to help them.
Fair enough – I actually think the entire brain drain debate is very timely and significant, but I stand on the other side of Abdul’s piece. No offense to the author, and I hope this turns into an interesting debate, but I think it’s simplistic to assume that just because you return home to Pakistan or stay there that you are automatically doing a service to the nation. I know plenty of Pakistanis who are working abroad (like myself) but are doing work for Pakistan through other channels. I think that’s an important point to make. Plus overseas Pakistanis are a enormous contributor of investment capital and donations into the country – another interesting point.
On the other side, I think it’s fair for the author to argue for skilled and educated Pakistanis to not leave the country for the West, or eventually return to Pakistan. At the same time, the situation in Pakistan – the violence, bombings, corruption, etc. are not just manufactured by the media. They are actual issues and legitimate reasons that make it difficult and unattractive environments to return home to.
In short, I see value in both sides of the brain drain argument, though I obviously work in the United States but for an organization serving Pakistan- thoughts?
My first response to this barrage of criticism was one of surprise tinged with a certain degree of resentment. I do not hail from a rich family, as many of you have assumed, but rather come from a middle class background. The only reason why in ended up in Georgetown was the scholarship I was offered.
And make no mistake, I have seen poverty very closely. I have visited the villages of rural Sindh and am perfectly cognizant of how the impoverished live, how every day of their life is an inexorable struggle to stay alive.
I still do not understand why my piece has met such opposition. Of what I can gather, the reason lies in that many of you live abroad and want to somehow explain your continued absence from your homeland. You want to convince yourself that your decision is without fault .Rationality sways on your side and I would not dare to say otherwise.
The great disparity between the compensation offered at home and abroad is a potent explanation of why the brightest pack their bags. But then again, forsaking the country is not the solution. The very people who can right the wrongs are missing and I personally feel ashamed when I see some of our MPAs. How, in God’s name can they be allowed to make the decisions of millions of people. Think about that, and while I recognize that the rewards are far greater outside, we just cannot allow the destiny of our nation to be written by a bunch of landlords and industrialists. In the long run, that would cost us dearly.
If purpose was to redirect us all back to home, that could have been achieved by a lot different piece. This was ridiculing everyone’s choice who decided to stay abroad.
Your piece sorry to say sounds very much like as if you are very much fresh off the boat and hence you are looking at the things in a very narrow scope. Pakistan is one country which has the worst diplomatic record or ties. We have no one talking for us abroad. So much so that I will feel comfortable claiming that our Ambassador to USA even sounds more like an American appointed Viceroy for Pakistan. In all these, people like us who chose to live abroad have a massive responsibility on our shoulders, we have to get stable abroad, have a good credibility and then further our country’s cause!
Remember Ravi Shanker was single handedly able to sway American public perception of Pakistan stupidity from 71 by his music and LIVING abroad so much so that America had to stay away from the whole conflict.
As far as people like us are concerned many of us are highly skilled migrants looking for work which make sense for us (for example I know someone who cannot do research in genetics in Pakistan and is moving to Switzerland this year) while others are economic migrants who are looking for better opportunities for their families who are often living below poverty line; to make a small house or get his sister’s married. And all of these are more than willing to go back to Pakistan if there are ample opportunities to prosper.
Look at India, the NRIs who called India cow dung smelling country are now flocking back to India because they have better opportunities waiting for them. And even why go further, remember the 2001 when for all the good reasons many Pakistanis were actually coming back home?
Best of luck to you – and if you are there on Fullbright scholarship I believe you will have to go back to Pakistan anyway.
“The most ironic factor is that the very people who refuse to do any form of work in Pakistan end up getting jobs in restaurants and petrol pumps abroad.”
Who are we to pass judgement on the fact that these people work in restaurants and petrol pumps abroad? Why is that being highlighted for emphasis?
They are making an honest living and in return they receive benefits that they would never get in Pakistan. There is health insurance, public education, and social security. Provide all of this and then maybe the middle class Pakistani will consider staying in Pakistan.
[...] The Brain Drain Curse – Abdul Samad [...]
I can relate to this since I have chosen to live away from Pakistan with the pre-text of higher studies from a very respected University and then a job offer which I couldn’t turn down.
But after reading the piece in entirety, is the author Abdul Samad back in Pakistan yet?
I think Abdul is currently still a student at Georgetown, but has the intention of returning home after his studies.
I hope he does that! Or maybe after two years we should do a follow up on him
I would love that..
Also, I take offense to this quote “For them, just the fact that they get paid in dollars overrides all the relations and bonds they have left behind. Money transcends love. Money overpowers human morality, the innate goodness present in every one of us. By no means, is this a life of happiness.”
I live abroad and make an honest living. Who are you to state that getting paid in dollars overrides not just relations but also human morality?!
Arent you generalizing a tad much? How can you make such a sweeping statement then sum up the article by saying “My appreciation only grew when I spent time studying abroad. No matter what happens, my love for my homeland and the inextricable bond with it would never diminish or fade away.”
“people who refuse to do any form of work in Pakistan end up getting jobs in restaurants and petrol pumps abroad?” Really? I am sorry your highness I didn’t realize that hard working people in restaurants and gas stations were beneath you. What a waste of a degree that you came all the way to the US to get. Clearly it taught you nothing. Your article is full of ignorant comments and filled to the brim with judgment on people and their way of life without understanding one bit of it.
So here is my judgment on you. I think you are a douche, you have no concept of reality (in more ways than one because you are also under the false assumption that all the problems of Pakistan are just being drummed up by the western media), you are the kind of person that does not practice what you are preaching from your pulpit in DC, you are the person whom I have seen in Pakistan many many times – the kind that walks past the chips wala in jinnah and doesn’t think twice about spitting right at his feet, you are unaware of the hard working people everywhere including Pakistan, you are the DB that doesn’t realize that the milk you drink every morning came from a man who has one cow that he milks every morning and rides his bike for 30KM so he can sell it to your khansama for a ¼ of the price of the actual value just so he can feed his 3 kids 1 roti. FU- I can go on and on, I really just don’t have the time to sit here and type out all the feelings that this article is making me want to say about you.
I work and live in the US. I have no desire to go back to Pakistan to live there and raise my family. I like that I have healthcare, social security, retirement benefits, personal security, freedom to name just a few things. I like that I work hard and its it gets me places. I like that I had to work a part time job as a cashier at a store in college so that I could pay for it. I like that no one looked down on me for doing so. I like that I pay taxes, I like that they are put to use on projects that benefit my life in the states. I get pissed that they get used to fight wars but at least I live in a country where I can voice that opinion and be heard. And you know what I LOVE Pakistan. I identify as a Pakistani American. And I am beyond proud of my heritage and I give back to my country in more ways than you know.
So when does your visa expire? I am kind of excited that you get to “drain” away from here.
Wow!
We are doing it again. Fighting and arguing to prove our point, and calling names. May be this comes across as very harsh, but to me this is true. Pakistan is deprived of the educated lot. Our cream prefers to go to USA and work there. I remember during my college days, Delton in karach was a nice spot. Young girls and boys would hang out there. It was a cool place. Now, we lack places like this. Every where we look there is poverty, lacking that polite pleasantness. It is very depressing. If only people who go abroad think about Pakistan. May be if all of us who get good education from these good universities think about going back to Pakistan and share education, talent with the others, bring Pakistan’s economy up, do something positive for the country, and stop this constant desire to hurt others, physically or mentally. I wish it happens, and happens soon.
“Is this why the Muslims of the subcontinent demanded a separate homeland, so that after 60 years of its creation escaping from it becomes the method of salvation in life?”
–> Aahh, the 2 nation theory. The curse which is responsible for everything that is wrong in Pakistan.
Jinnah what have you done! You should have listened to Nehru and Patel.
Atleast Bangladesh has effectively rejected the 2 nation theory!
Good for Bangladesh and best of luck to them. I however wonder how is that a curse for Pakistan.
A country based on the theory which encourages divisiveness rather than unity is bound to be violent and unstable.. Every single problem, almost, has its origins to this idiotic theory, which essentially says 2 sets of Human Beings are somehow different from the other.
Here’s actually an interesting related piece from the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/mar/07/pakistan-remittances-from-abroad-change-lives
this is the 1st time im posting here, after following chup for over a year. Great work kulsoom, wish there were more sane minds in pak like u, sad there aren’t.
being a student of economics, politics and social sciences- here’s what i know
People tend to migrate, emigrate for lack of opportunities, safety (generally physical), or over all better prospects (by this i mean either the a scientist who wishes to pursue genetic research and has no chance in pak, since no facilities or a person who wishes for more money and a better over all standard of living) (plz also note that some scientists will migrate from the west to the east – remember the stem cell research thing banned in most western nations)
No matter what either china, india, pakistan or bangladesh do in the next 20 or 50 years and no matter how much economy rises, none of us will able to afford the kind of lifestyles the west has. answer is becoz of huge populations. china has 1.3bil people and its economy may be second, but can it provide the kind of social priviledges the west can afford for its people? can everyone have a car, hell if they did, can everyone really drive? considering there will be no more raods left free enough. Can they provide uneployment, retirement, medical benifits? so on so forth.
Same stands true for india, bangladesh or anyone else, with vast populations.
But thats not about it, it doesnt mean we should stop trying to develop and provide our people with atleast the most basic things, namely Education, food, shelter and medical services.
Remittances from abroad do change lives of people back in their homeland. but think of it conversely. in the last 20 years, india has seen nri’s coming back. since change of govt in indian state of bihar, bihari’s have returned from various indian cities back to their state. why? economics (true for india on the over all) helped with some semblance of rule of law and order (specifically for bihar)
The answer is simple which is most often over looked – create conditions which MAKE people want to return and they are just 3 basic ones. security being 1st, jobs being second and educational opportunities.
in 90 sovet union collapsed, russia was nearly bankrupt and war weary, in 93, india was nearly bankrupt, many chose to migrate from both respective countries to the west or elsewhere. cut to 2011 – economies have boomed, people are returning. think about whats wrong with pak then.
Not disagreeing on much with you except for the point about infrastructure to support economic prosperity. Well I would recommend you to look into the concept of Smart Cities. World over they are working wonders for Nations or rather just take example of present Japan, they have more population per sq inch than any other place and yet they are perhaps doing better than many Western countries when it comes to public transit and public sector amenities.
Cheers
Simply the the unstable government is problem. Besides
when graduate must survive this logical. No wonder majority not incline to return. Conservative element within
Pakistan I proud of my heritage. Squabbles lack of progress to establish business class. Has cause the elite to
immigrate else were. Now living in Gulf states the desire. To
achieve economic independence and career security. No longer believe me Pakistan needs. To decide what government policies to retain those. As myself I live in Qatar
but might have. Move to UAE or Oman desire to return to
Pakistan. If can make sufficient wage: nice article but true!