[33] The majority of Baloch settlers originated from the Makran coast and settled in what is today Oman, forming part of the Bedoon community.

[35] A small population of Muslim clergy from Punjab, Kashmir, and Sindh settled in Mecca by the 14th century to aid travellers from the region making the journey for Hajj and to help expand Islam throughout the Indus Valley and its tributaries.

Bankers and merchants from southern Punjab (Multan) and northern Sindh (Shikarpur) were present in Safavid Persia during the 15th century, living alongside Jews and Armenians.

[41][42][43] After the establishment of the British Empire in 1857, Baloch and Pashtuns, along with Punjabis, Sindhis, and Kashmiris, continued coming to Britain as seamen, traders, students, domestic workers, cricketers, political officials, and visitors.

[48] British Columbia became a destination for many Punjabi migrants as agents of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Hudson's Bay Company guaranteed jobs for them between 1902 and 1905.

Poor wages and working conditions convinced Punjabi workers to pool their resources, lease land, and grow their own crops, thereby establishing themselves in the newly budding farming economy of northern California.

They also took positions in the civil service administration and gradually rose to the upper echelons of government, becoming inextricably intermixed with the Malay majority.

The rapid industrialization of Pakistan during the 1950s and 1960s, coupled with the introduction of modern agricultural practices, pushed out surplus labor, leading to mass rural-to-urban migration, primarily to Karachi.

[52] During this period, the majority of Pakistanis who went abroad considered themselves "sojourners", who left to earn money but did not intend to settle, or were students who planned to return to Pakistan after completing their degree programs.

Pakistanis also emigrated from these areas and the regions of Attock and Nowshera due to high levels of unemployment and harsh terrain that made farming difficult.

[54] During the same period, the British government actively sought workers from abroad for industrial towns in north-west England, which were suffering from labor shortages.

Many Pakistani emigrants relocated to work in towns like Rochdale, Newcastle, Bristol, High Wycombe, Birmingham, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, and Bradford.

[54] The availability of a large-scale labor force from Pakistan resulted from a combination of economic, social, and institutional factors at home.

The rapid economic development of the 1950s and 1960s could not be sustained by 1970, and a wave of nationalization of business and industry was unfolding under Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Institutionally, a network of information chains to seek work and the channels for remitting money to families back in Pakistan already existed.

The year 2015 witnessed a peak in outbound migration, as 946,571 Pakistanis left the country primarily in pursuit of employment and enhanced career prospects.

Workers come in, work for a few years, periodically visit Pakistan for short or long breaks, and then return permanently.

The objective of the OPF is to advance the welfare of Pakistanis working or settled abroad and their families in Pakistan by identifying their problems and contributing to their solutions.

[66] The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation operates more than 24 schools in and across Pakistan, offering preschool, primary, secondary, and preparation for local SSC and the international GCE education.

These schools fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education and mainly cater to students who are not nationals of the host country, such as children of the staff of international businesses, organizations, embassies, missions, or missionary programs.

[67] For overseas Pakistani families, these schools provide continuity in education from Pakistan, as most prefer to stay within the same curriculum, especially for older childrenchildren.

[68] Pakistan International Schools typically use curricula based on the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education and offer both Urdu and English language classes.

The population of returning expatriates from the Americas, who often have excellent credentials, has increased significantly due to new job opportunities in Pakistan.

Those returning from North America generally find it easier to secure jobs in Pakistan and are involved in a wide range of fields, including healthcare, engineering, law, banking, information technology, mass media, and industry.