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Debate: The brain drain problem
Nowadays the future plans of many youngsters are simple: go abroad for higher education, and then get a good job there and settle there forever. Parents also think the same way for their kids. Going abroad for higher education is fine, but then working and completely settling there and not returning causes a few problems not for the people but their country. Many people opt to work abroad because of higher pays, high-standard of living, and a safer place for the development of their future generations. For them the idea of living abroad looks so glamorous and rewarding. In fact, there is a general concept in our society that he who lives abroad, no matter what sort of work he does, is a very successful and wealthy person, much superior to those who work here. People proudly boast about their relatives who live in the US, or for that matter any foreign land.
According to a newspaper report, in the 1990s, approximately 650,000 people from emerging countries migrated to the United States for professional work. Twenty per cent of all were employed in the US information technology sector. Approximately one-third of research and development (R&D) professionals of the developing world moved to work in the US, Japan or some country of the European Union. This problem of brain-drain is pervasive in the developing world.
We should understand that life is not all about earning your salary in dollars or pounds, driving luxury cars, or using electronic gadgets to do most of the household work. Even Islam emphasizes that one should not be materialistic. There is much more to life. Apart from living on principles and achieving something, life is also about giving something in return to those who have given something to you. Therefore just think about the things this country has given you. How unfair it would be for this country when you take a lot from here and then go abroad to serve an alien nation.
Many people may say that life in Pakistan is not very easy and pleasant. That’s right. There is corruption, illness, pollution, load shedding, water shortage, and other sundry problems. But then, life in the West is also not as easy either. In fact, many of those who go abroad are relegated to the level of second-class citizens. It takes a long time for them to settle there and be accepted by the people of that society; specially nowadays, there is an unpleasant attitude prevalent towards Pakistanis and the people of other Muslim countries. Greener pastures are sometimes not as green as people think. On the contrary, in Pakistan you live as a first-class citizen and get immense love and respect from your countrymen.
Brain-drain creates a lot of problems for the country. When able and educated people move out, there is little the country can do to make itself better and stronger. All sectors of the country, like education, law, marketing, industries, medical services, science and technology, etc. are reeled. The country is left more backward and destitute than it ever was.
Think about the sacrifices of those who created Pakistan. They had great visions and dreams for this country. We should not let them down by leaving our homeland — the place where we belong.
Pakistan needs you. If we won’t work for this country’s development, then who will? And then, life in Pakistan isn’t that bad. You can get good jobs and high pays — if you work hard and possess the necessary potential and skills. All amenities of life are available here. Isn’t that more than enough? And if you want more than that, then I would again say that a super-luxurious lifestyle and acquiring wealth is not all that life is about.
Life is also about giving something to your people, as Abraham Lincoln rightly said: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
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