Migration patterns in Pakistan have been heavily influenced by geography, political conflicts, and development projects. Domestic migration includes the development of Punjab canal colonies in the early 1900s which increased rural and urban populations, and rural-urban migration today driven by industrialization. International migration was impacted by the 1947 India-Pakistan partition which increased populations in Punjab and Sindh, as well as conflicts with India, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh which produced refugees. Emigration is now significant, with over 95% of emigrants being male workers going to the Middle East, UK, and USA. Remittances are a major economic impact, transforming infrastructure and appliances in recipients' homes while also creating socioeconomic challenges.

1. Migration Patterns in Pakistan
By: Ali Abbasi
Fatima Lodhi
Rimsha Sohail Qureshi

2. Migration Patterns related to
geography
• Northern mountains
• Western highlands
• Indus plains
• Eastern deserts

10. Reasons for international immigration
• Canal colonies
• 1947 migration
• Indo-pak wars
• Afghan conflict
• Bangladeshi and
burmese migrants

11. Development of punjab canal colonies
Reasons
• Colonized 4.5 m
hectares of land (desert
& pastoral) for
agriculture purpose
• Imported peasants from
eastern punjab
• Development of mandi
towns for export of
agricultural products
Effects
• Population increase of
18% (1901-1911) – rural
areas
• Population increase
22% (1911 – 1921) –
urban areas
• Emergence of “locals”
and “settlers”

12. 1947 migration from India
• No communication link
with KPK and
Baluchistan
• Compulsory migration
between India and
Pakistan’s punjab
• Migrants had a cultural
and linguistic link with
punjab
• Pakistan population
increased 6% (1.8m)
• No migration to KPK
and Baluchistan
• Migration increased in
Punjab - 90% to 192%
(1941-1951)
• Migration increased in
Sindh - >150%
(1941-1951)s

13. Impact of this migration
• Caste and clan
organization became
weak and ineffective
• Go-getting culture
replaced by old value
system
• Mono-religious society
emerged aiming to be
mono-cultural

14. Result of indo-pak wars
• Pakistan and India
fought wars in 1948 –
Kashmir conflict.
• In 1965 & 1971, Thar’s
population migrated to
india
• Kargill conflict took
place in 1977 – all
producing refugees
• Kashmiris migrated to
Karachi owing to
geographical limitations
• 3500 muslim families
moved to Thar and
were alloted 12 acres of
land, yet infrastructure
and agricultural output
collapsed.

15. As a result of Afghan Conflict
• Population growth rate
– Peshawar > 2% (1961-1972)-
9% (1972-1981)
– Quetta >
3%(1961-1972)-7%(1972-198
1)
– 600,000Afghans settled in
Karachi (NARA)
• Koochis of Pawandas
settled permanently in
Pakistan
• Increased numbers of
Pushto speakers in Pakistan
• Strengthened Pukhtoon
culture and religious
establishment
• Emergence of “heroine and
klashinkove” culture
• Major segment of unskilled
labor force plus earth-work
contractors

16. Bangladeshi and Burmese migrants
• 1971 war prompted
non-bengalis to shift to
Orangi Karachi
• Riots between Burmese
muslims and Burmese
government increased
migration to karachi
• Belonging to educated
class, they have worked
for improving
infrastructure
• Engaged in the fishery
industry

17. Impacts of international migration
• Illegal encroachments
• Acquired CNIC plus vote that disrupts electoral
process
• Bangladeshi and Burmese women trafficked
for prostitution to karachi
• Cause of unemployment as these foreigners
work for lowest wages

18. Rural – Urban Migration
• Agricultural economy
shifted to a capital
intensive system
• Industrialization in the
urban areas
• Free their children from
oppression of the
feudal system
• Education
• As per 1998 census,
– 43% migrants moved
with household head
– 17% because of
marriage
– 12% for employment
– 9% for business

19. Impacts – urban areas
• Creation of informal settlements
• Public land unavailable, settlements being created by
informal subdivision of agricultural land
• Along the transport corridors creating problem for
infrastructural development
• Water and seweage discharged to water bodies
• Aquifiuers being depleted plus formation of soak-pits
• Transport has become a major issue
• Inner cities becoming male-dominated and hubs of
corruption

20. Impacts- rural areas
• Migrant families have improved their homes and
created new ones
• Lobbied for piped water
• Created schools under government support
• Creation of new types of outlets and fast foods
• Caste system and feudal system being demolished
• Artisan products replaced by industrial goods
• Cultural estrangement
• Problems regarding maintenance of agricultural
infrastructure and natural resources increased with a
significant decline in agricultural activities

21. Emigration
• 95% of emigrants are men
• People from Mirpur migrated to
UK (1950’s and 1960’s) owing to
creation of mega-irrigation
project
• Demand of physicians and IT
professionals in USA and UK
• Large-scale migration owing to
the building boom in Middle East
in 1970’s
• Agreement signed in 2006
between Korea and Malaysia for
pakistani workers
• Minorities migrated owing to
socio-political reasons
• Working class emigrants possess
skills and education
– 5% of physicians migrated to USA
and UK
• People in possession of
agricultural land constitute a
major portion of emigrants :
Rawalpindi and Sahiwal
• Young Pakistanis wish to
emigrate owing to social and
economic reasons.
• Ismailiz migrated owing to
“taalibanization”
• Makran coast locals work in
Muscati army and police

22. Remittances – a major consequence
• KPK highest dependence on
remittances
• Quarter of all income in Azad
Jammu Kashmir
• Emigrants of Makran coast suffer
owing to a very low inflow of
remmitences
• Remittances sent via the “hundi”
system
• Families to have washing
machines, refrigirators, piped
water and flush toilets, yet no
difference in education or food
intake
• Social status of women changed –
greater independence
• Emigrants become
psychologically challenged
• In Makran, lack of labor has
increased the gap in middle and
low income families
• Macroeconomic indicators
improved

23. Emigrant organization and Socio-
economic development
• Gateshed-Sahiwal Initiative
by Dr.Bashir in UK
• Association of Pakistani
physicians of North America
• Shifa International Hospital
plus Shifa foundation
• World sindhi Congress
• Overseas Pakistan
Foundation
• Health program linking
gateshed council and
sahiwal TMA
• Support medical and charity
initiatives in NA. Collected
1.7m for earth quake
affectees
• Hospital providing services
plus education youngsters
of Pakistan
• Unity of sindhi speaking
people in india and pakistan
• Works for a welfare fund to
enhance infrastructure