Local loss or global gain: nurses’ migration throws up dilemma
Dr Salimah Walani, Dean of the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan
AKU
Media Source: Dawn (Pakistan)
Date: 14 August 2025
While Pakistan faces an acute shortage of nurses and produces a critically lower number of nursing graduates, it sees a high annual outward migration of these professionals due to unfavourable factors, such as inadequate salaries, poor benefits and high workloads, according to a recent study by Aga Khan University (AKU). Nurses…
While Pakistan faces an acute shortage of nurses and produces a critically lower number of nursing graduates, it sees a high annual outward migration of these professionals due to unfavourable factors, such as inadequate salaries, poor benefits and high workloads, according to a recent study by Aga Khan University (AKU). Nurses, comprising 0.4 per cent of Pakistani professionals abroad, have seen the highest growth — 54.2% compound annual growth rate from 2019 to 2024. The report titled “Pakistan’s Nursing Workforce — Export Potential and Challenges”, was jointly launched by Pakistan Business Council (PBC) and the AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM), Pakistan. The goal of the study was to evaluate the potential of nurses’ contribution to the country through remittances and identify specific challenges that hinder their acceptance in global markets. It suggests strategies to elevate their skillset and overall quality of care. Speaking at the event, Dean of AKU, SONAM, Dr Salimah Walani said, “The migration of nurses from Pakistan is driven by pull and push factors. We must have an open dialogue about what factors are pushing our nurses out.”