Total population | |
---|---|
7,600,000 Approximately 4.0% of the Pakistani population |
|
Saudi Arabia | 1,900,000 |
United Kingdom | 1,510,836 |
United Arab Emirates | 1,200,000 |
United States | 918,769 |
Oman | 235,000 |
France | 165,000 |
Canada | 155,310 |
Kuwait | 117,544 |
Qatar | 115,000 |
Bahrain | 112,000 |
Malaysia | 110,000 |
Italy | 110,000 |
South Africa | 100,000 |
Greece | 90,000 |
Spain | 81,413 |
Germany | 72,000 |
Thailand | 65,500 |
Australia | 60,000 |
Norway | 42,000 |
Languages | |
English, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki, Balochi, other languages of Pakistan and languages spoken in respective country of residence. | |
Religion | |
Predominantly Islam (Sunni, Shia & Ahmadiyya). Significant Christianity. Minorities of Zoroastrianism, Hinduism and Sikhism. | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Pakistani people |
Overseas Pakistanis (Urdu: بیرون ملک مقیم پاکستانی), refers to Pakistani people who live outside of Pakistan. These include citizens that have migrated to another country as well as people born abroad of Pakistani descent. According to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, approximately 7.6 million Pakistanis live abroad, with a vast majority residing in the Middle East. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Pakistan has the 6th largest diaspora in the world. In 2014-15, overseas Pakistanis sent remittances amounting to ₨1928 billion (US$18 billion), which translates into a year-on-year increase of 16.5% according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan.
The term Overseas Pakistani is officially recognized by the Government of Pakistan. The term refers to Pakistani citizens who have not resided in Pakistan for a specified period (for purpose of income tax) and people born abroad who are of Pakistani descent.
The National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis, or NICOP, is a Computerized National Identity Card issued to workers, emigrants, citizens, or Pakistanis holding dual nationality. NICOP was conceived by NADRA in 2002 as a project of mutual resolve between the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, the Ministry of Labour & Manpower, and the Ministry of Interior. All NICOP holders are registered into the NADRA database to provide authenticity of the individual and visa-free entry into Pakistan.