ISLAMABAD – Human capital is integral to the economic progress of Pakistan but discouraging domestic factors are forcing young professionals to look further afield for better prospects and shift abroad, said Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Mahfooz Elahi.
He expressed concern that due to the dearth of job opportunities, negative environment and lack of support on the part of the government, knowledgeable and skilled professionals are looking to other destinations to earn a decent livelihood in a peaceful environment. Elahi noted that issue of brain drain and migration of human capital is becoming a critical problem, which needs to be stopped.
He said that youth holding professional qualification from Pakistan and abroad prefers to settle abroad.
The president called upon the government to take proactive measures and create a positive environment for both youth and professionals, so that they could stay to contribute positively to the economic development of Pakistan.
President ICCI pointed out that quite a large number of doctors, engineers and qualified individuals are rendered unemployed; such a situation creates frustration and encourages them to emigrate.
The shortage of professional and skilled human resource will be aggravated, if current situation continues to prevail in the coming years, Elahi opined. He was of the view that high inflation is another major cause of the flight of human capital because in the current tough circumstance, it has become increasingly difficult for a common man to survive. Educated people do not foresee secure careers in the future.
ICCI President citing examples of China and other developed countries said that these countries greatly emphasise the retention and development of human capital and commit heavy resources towards professional training and education. In contrast, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has cut its budget for the students who go abroad for higher studies.
Elahi also spoke on the poor state of education, indicating that every year a large number of young people go abroad for study in different countries and prefers to remain there after completion of education, emphasising the need for the government to devise policies to attract them back to Pakistan and provide them better opportunities for their productive role in national development. He emphasized that Pakistan should stem this alarming condition by providing better job opportunities based on skills and talent because due to migration of skilled labour with industries also facing a shortage of skillful workers.
