Pakistan’s Nursing Workforce: A Vital Untapped Asset for Economic Growth

KARACHI: A new report unveiled today by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) and Aga Khan University’s (AKU) School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan, spotlights the nation’s nursing workforce as a crucial, yet underexploited, asset for Pakistan’s economic future and global standing. The report, titled “Pakistan’s Nursing Workforce – Export Potential and Challenges,” proposes strategic investments to bolster the healthcare system, invigorate the economy, and enhance the country’s international reputation.

The study delves into the “push and pull factors” driving the significant migration of Pakistani nurses, a trend that saw a 54% compound annual growth rate in overseas employment between 2019 and 2024. Dr. Salimah Walani, Dean of AKU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan, highlighted a stark statistic: “There are over two doctors per nurse in Pakistan.” She questioned, “We must ask ourselves if our nurses are rightly valued and rewarded in our society and in our healthcare systems.”

The report outlines two primary avenues for growth. Firstly, a robust and well-supported nursing workforce fosters a healthier populace, foundational for long-term economic stability. Pakistan currently graduates only 5,600 nursing professionals annually, with a critical nurse-to-population ratio of just 5.2 per 10,000 people, significantly below the World Health Organization’s recommended 30 per 10,000.

Secondly, by elevating the education and global mobility of Pakistani nurses, the nation can substantially boost valuable remittances and establish itself as a prominent source of global healthcare talent. Recommendations include implementing effective retention strategies, offering competitive salaries, creating clearer career pathways, and launching media campaigns to improve the nursing profession’s image. Furthermore, the report advocates for education, policy, and procedural reforms to streamline overseas employment processes, alleviate financial burdens, and globally promote Pakistani nurses.

Farah Naz Ata, Senior Economist at PBC, urged a paradigm shift. “This is the time for Pakistan to shift its perception of the nursing profession from undervalued to indispensable, and convert a persistent challenge into a long-term economic advantage,” Ata said. “By implementing our recommendations, we can uplift healthcare standards at home, empower our nurses, and unlock a powerful stream of foreign remittances.”

The launch event at AKU convened key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health and nursing leadership, signaling a united national commitment to advancing the report’s recommendations. This comprehensive, expert-backed strategy, heavily shaped by AKU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, provides a clear roadmap to enhance nursing education, retention, leadership, and global placement, ultimately strengthening the backbone of Pakistan’s healthcare system.