Brain Drain

(In Pakistan)
A nations or institutions loss of scientific, technical, or leadership talent when these people relocate. This is a problem in developing countries, which use their limited resources to educate citizens only to see them migrate to nations that offer higher salaries or other desirable conditions. (Barker, 2003, p. 50). Brain Drain can be simply defined as a mass migration of technically skilled people from one country to another country. All developing countries are suffering from brain drain and developed countries like USA, UK, and Canada are gaining the advantage of brain gain. Recently, there has been a trend that people who are qualified are moving from poor nations to rich nation for more opportunities to develop and have a better life. Some people think that through this movement, rich countries are robbing poor countries of essential personnel like doctors, scientists and so on. Pakistan is also one of the many countries in which brain drain is a major issue. The main causes of brain drain in Pakistan are such as no value of talent, lack of opportunities, unsecure future, corrupt political system, unemployment, lack of research facility, lack of professional equipment and tools, unsatisfactory living conditions, low wages & salaries, health risks etc. As to describe no value of talent, as If a person who has completed his/her masters degree with flying colors and he/she is very good in his/her field but the problem he faces is that he/she has no power or any source or reference so he/she does not get a job in Pakistan on the base of his/her talents so the only option left for him/her is to move abroad where he/she will earn a handsome amount of money get full benefits on the base of his talent. As for the lack of opportunities, In our country graduates and post graduates experienced and skilled professionals are not getting enough opportunities to develop and succeed so for sake of a better future and dream of development they prefer the much developed countries . Its a great loss of their own country. One of the reasons of brain drain is that when Pakistani student go abroad for under-graduate or post-graduate studies, they get so much involved in their studies, which causes not to keep in touch with their parents, relatives and friends. Most of the students are presently unaware about the positive developments that are taking place in Pakistan in their absence after some time those students become used to the custom and tradition of the foreign countries and eventually they do not return to Pakistan. Terrorism is the main reasons for an unsecure future. There have been so many bomb blasts recently that there is no guarantee if you leave your house you will return safely so most of the people dont feel safe living in their own country. Economic condition has also a great influence on professional or skilled people. In Pakistan unstable GDP growth excludes the majority of the people from high quality education health facilities that can be cause of brain there is another

kind of brain drain which is brain drain with shame. This is the kind of brain drain where the person living the country does not want to go abroad but they are forced to leave their own homeland. Most of the people living in Pakistan consider that a degree from a developed country has more influence than a degree from their own homeland. Salary of the skilled professionals is 20 times higher than in Pakistan and another reason is also that they are not given the respect and appreciations that they are suppose to get. Sometimes the people are forced to leave their country against their will mostly forced by their relatives and friends who think that there is no scope in their own country. Also most of the students securing top positions in their universities are often recruited by European companies where as the Pakistani companies dont even offer them a chance to prove themselves. Hardly any other country suffers from brain draining than Pakistan nearly 3500 (annual) graduates of Pakistan medical colleges are jobless. Government has a major role in brain draining no positive steps have been taken by the government of Pakistan to stop the brain drain. Pakistan embassies should have full knowledge about those students who are studying in foreign country. Educated unemployment is very high in salary level for skilled workers are often kept low by government. Strong departmental plays a major role in forcing people to think on getting out from their own country in sake of a better and peaceful working opportunities. Government does not provide the sufficient facilities, opportunities and respect to the skilled people. Due to known availability of good options by government, the young generation feel un-satisfaction about their future and thus many young people think and plan to go abroad for a better future, later they get settle there. Our government should act upon against brain drain. The emphasis should be given on higher education.Government should give the attractive packages to the highly qualified to control the migration of such experts. Pakistan embassies should aware all the relevant information about those person who are studying or serving in another countries. It is very important that government should provide the skilled people enough opportunities and living facilities. For this purpose, developed nation should help to developing countries with necessary money and resource. Government is not giving benefit to the talented people. So, government should give benefit to that talented people and also encourage them. It might be possible to reduce the negative effects of the brain-drain by promoting links with skilled nationals and former nationals abroad. Government should notice at this serious issue critically. Net resources: http://www.springerlink.com/default.aspx

Syed.A.Mateen pakistan@attglobal.net

- Due to terrorism and economic crisis, the highly qualified and brilliant people are forced to leave the country in search of better future in the West. The initiative of Higher Education Commission (HEC) to convert brain-drain into brain-gain is also being damaged owing to inadequate policies of the new government. However, thousands of MBBS graduates are produced annually from different medical colleges and universities in the country, while 50 to 60 per cent of the fresh graduates leave the country to pursue for better professional careers in foreign lands. Conversely, the feeling of insecurity is also compelling common man to migrate towards prosperous countries, including Canada, Australia, England, America, New Zealand, Germany and South Africa. However, it is difficult to figure out how many Pakistanis are living abroad but it is roughly estimated that nearly six million of them have left the country for good The countries that are losing talent should set up more liberal and open regimes that create a positive environment for business and the well-educated persons could contribute for improvement of economy and the society at large.

According to official estimates of Pakistan's Overseas Employment Corporation, close to 36,000 professionals, including doctors, engineers and teachers, have migrated to other countries in the last 30 years An additional problem is that advancement for the highly skilled is limited in a system where individuals often gain jobs and other opportunities through personal contacts versus merit. This also fuels a frustration with the system. This also leads to Pakistan's professionals leaving the country for one in which their skills and talents will be rewarded properly, based on what they do, not who they know.