After 9/11 expats started to revert to the homeland, initiated bases with plans of moving families and winding up abroad in few years. However, the corrupt system, lawlessness and political uncertainty made them take their decisions back.

We are unfortunate as a nation that we failed to capitalize on these assets. We are, instead, facilitating “foreign investors” who are sucking the economy dry, remitting 100% profits back and will wind up in 3-4 years. Prime example is banking sector where foreign banks are allowed up to 30% profit remittance so that in 3 years that would have their money back and then can wind up at any time.

With increasing oil prices, exponentially expanding trade deficit, falling dollar, war in northern areas and suicide bombings across the country, its better to relocate now, otherwise it will be too late.

Qazi, this important question comes across my table everyday, interestingly in both directions, i.e. in the form of candidates who want to go abroad and candidates who want to come back to Pakistan. In my business, Recruitment, I’m supposed to provide qualified and experienced professionals to foreign clients, basically Gulf-oriented looking for experienced IT professionals like Oracle 10g gurus, .net developers, Java wizards, network hawks etc. And there are overseas Pakistanis with certain niche skills, who have expertise in domains never heard of in Pakistan or never worked upon either, willing to come back. Within these overseas professionals, there is a certain lot who will go for a niche’ start-up and open vistas for new areas of Business development. Hence, if we have a good outflow vs. inflow of resources, it will be healthy for the industry and economy too. If more people leave the country, I agree there will be a shortage of talent and it would become quite difficult to deliver quality.

Recently, I came in contact with placement cells of few Uni’s and according to them whatever their students who opt for IT, find work easily in their domains, in different of the fact what kind of Quality they are able to exhibit in practice. The major concern of especially government turned autonomous universities is placing students from disciplines like Statistic, Botany etc. In my observation, the problem these students face once they step into professional world is the gap between the industry and the curriculum. The industry is so busy in what they are doing, advancing at such a rapid pace that the majority of our students have no career counseling before they step into the cruel Career making.

The issue of go or not to go has become favorite dinnertime topic at my house too. My family is of the view that this is high time to apply for immigration, keeping in view my age and options (p.s. I’m 30). I agree with them on the part that after a struggle of few years (1.5 initial processing and 4 years there in Australia) we would be sawing the seeds of success for the kids, who would benefit a better value for life, better education and even if we decide to come back later on they can go for their higher studies. My only fear are those unknown 4 years!

I hope we as a nation get some serenity back in our heads and some optimism to lead a successful life peaceful with dignity and under a wise ruler. Until that happen keep exploring options.

I could not agree more with Kashif and Adnan. Political situation is rather important as well, I mean the moment you switch on the television, it’s violence everywhere and I am not talking about Iraq or Afghanistan, it’s suicide bombings in Karachi, Islamabad and street crime in Lahore. Also, can you imagine a Software Engineer ever being able to own a house or even an apartment with our current pay structures. The pay structure of course can be adjusted by the companies but the law and order that is up to government and it does not look, that it is getting better any time soon.

BitterTruth, the problem with PhDs in pakistan i have seen (and I have met few HEC phds) is that this is why they come to get this degree to teach and have a good life i have yet to see a PhD who would defy the comforts of teach ( a couple of hours lecture a day and sit in office rest of the time) and go do real research or work with an organization doing such thing.

I guess recent events makes these predictions even more important to consider?

Well, this situation will act like a catalyst, friends i know who previously had no plans what so ever and even had family conditions which would make it almost impossible for them to move out otherwise, are planning to do so although for them previously it was almost impossible for them to even think about it. Lets pray we show them some miracles here to change their minds.

Hira, nice idea to monitor job trends on rozee. I came across a report on newspapers namely Dawn, Jang etc. by PU students, I’ll try to get hold of that report and share here.

On a Macro level, 2 incidents I have came across.

a) A US company having a very small foot print here was planning a major marketing drive right before the Emergency announcement and have tied up with numerous companies and some Govt. sector orgs. But due to the announcement they have to pull the plug, hence wasting there 1 year of effort. And no clue how ro go about continuing there presence and keeping up the BD drive.

Another company working for some clients in gulf having some potential clients coming in for Demo’s and meetings were coming in around the same time. Now, the companies BD staff have to fly to Dubai and setup everything from there. Costs $! Its going to cost them on-shoring rather than off-shoring.

Qazi, the miracle would be the following:
- Acknowledging Human Capital as an asset
- Better Managers hence no man-handling
- Pay rates are already at there peak, its time to bring in perks
- Start-ups start sharing with the employees

There was some news that Weblo was going to start a campaign in Pakistan to launch weblo locally — Im not sure if they were affected by the recent talk as well.