Overseas Pakistanis
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 8,500,000+ Approximately 4.0% of the Pakistani population |
|
 Saudi Arabia
|
2,200,000 |
 United Arab Emirates
|
1,300,000 |
 United Kingdom
|
1,174,983 |
 United States
|
518,769 |
 Canada
|
155,310 |
 Kuwait
|
130,000 |
 Malaysia
|
>100,000 |
 Qatar
|
90,000 |
 Italy
|
151,000 |
 Oman
|
85,000 |
 Greece
|
82,000 |
 Bahrain
|
80,166 |
 France
|
75,000 |
 Germany
|
75,000 |
 Spain
|
69,481 |
 China
|
65,000 |
 Hong Kong
|
55,000 |
 Australia
|
33,049 |
| Languages | |
| English, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki, Balochi, other languages of Pakistan and the languages spoken in the respective country of residence | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Islam (Sunni & Shia ) with small numbers of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism and Sikhism | |
The Pakistani diaspora, also known as overseas Pakistanis (Urdu: بیرون ملک پاکستانیوں ), refers to Pakistani citizens that have migrated to another country, as well as people living abroad who are of Pakistani descent. According to the Pakistani Government, there are around 8 million Pakistani people living abroad with a vast majority of them residing in the Middle East. Overseas Pakistanis sent remittances amounting to $18.4 billion in 2014-15, which translates into a year-on-year increase of 16.5%, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Pakistan has the sixth largest diaspora in the world.
The term Overseas Pakistani is officially recognized by the Government of Pakistan. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis was established in 2008 to exclusively deal with all the matters and affairs of the overseas Pakistanis such as attending to their needs and problems, intending schemes and projects for their welfare and working for resolution of their problems and issues. Overseas Pakistani workers are the second largest source of Foreign Exchange Remittances to Pakistan after exports and over the last several years, the foreign exchange remittances have maintained a steady rising trend, with a recorded increase of 21.8% from $6.4 billion in 2007-08 to $7.8 billion during 2008-09. In 2009-10, Pakistanis sent home $9.4 billion, the 11th largest in the world. By 2012, Pakistan increased its ranking to 10th in the world for remittances sent home at $13 billion per annum. In the first six months of fiscal year 2014 Pakistanis sent home $7.9 billion showing continuously increasing trend and projected to touch around $16 billion at the end of the FY14. The Overseas Pakistani Division (OPD) was created in September 2004 within the Ministry of Labour and Manpower. Since 2004, it has recognized the importance of overseas Pakistanis and their contribution to the economy. Together with Community Welfare Attaches (CWAs) and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), all three are improving the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. The division aims at providing better services to the overseas Pakistanis through improved facilities at airports, setting up suitable schemes in housing, education and health care. Its largest effort is facilitating the rehabilitation of returning overseas Pakistanis.
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Wikipedia