For millions of Pakistanis living abroad, moving overseas is seen as a path toward better opportunities, education, financial growth, and a brighter future for their families. Yet, behind the images of success and comfort often shared on social media, lies a more complex and emotional journey filled with struggles that many never talk about openly.
Pakistanis living overseas face a unique set of challenges that test their resilience, identity, and emotional strength. This article dives deep into the real-life obstacles faced by the Pakistani diaspora around the world and how they navigate these hardships.
1. Cultural Adjustment and Identity Struggles
One of the first challenges faced by Pakistanis abroad is adapting to a completely new culture. From language barriers to different social norms and lifestyles, cultural adjustment can feel overwhelming.
Key Challenges:
- Learning a new language or adjusting to different accents
- Understanding new societal rules and expectations
- Balancing Pakistani cultural identity with the influence of a foreign culture
Emotional Impact:
Many Pakistanis struggle with a dual identity, often feeling “not fully accepted” in either their host country or when they visit Pakistan. This internal conflict can lead to feelings of isolation and confusion, especially among younger generations born abroad.
2. Homesickness and Emotional Isolation
No matter how long they’ve lived abroad, many Pakistanis carry a deep-rooted longing for home—the taste of traditional food, the buzz of family gatherings, and the warmth of familiar traditions.
Common Experiences:
- Missing important life events like weddings, funerals, and religious festivals
- Feeling disconnected from extended family and old friends
- Coping with loneliness, especially during cultural holidays like Eid
Note:
Technology helps bridge the distance, but video calls can never fully replace a warm hug from a parent or a hearty laugh among cousins.
3. Discrimination and Racism
Living as a minority in a foreign land often exposes Pakistanis to discrimination, both subtle and direct. This can deeply affect their mental health and sense of belonging.
Forms of Discrimination:
- Racial profiling and stereotypes
- Limited job opportunities due to ethnic background
- Facing prejudice based on religion, especially for visibly Muslim Pakistanis
In many cases, Pakistanis have to work harder than others to prove their worth and gain acceptance, adding extra pressure to their everyday lives.
4. Financial Pressure and Family Expectations
There’s a widespread belief among relatives and friends back home that living abroad automatically equals wealth and luxury. However, the reality is often very different.
Financial Challenges:
- High cost of living (housing, healthcare, education)
- Long working hours, often in labor-intensive or low-paying jobs
- Sending remittances back to support family while managing personal expenses
Emotional Burden:
The expectation to regularly send money home or fund family events adds an emotional and financial burden. Many overseas Pakistanis feel guilty when they can’t meet every request, even when they are struggling themselves.
5. Legal and Immigration Issues
Navigating immigration laws is another hurdle. Whether it’s visa renewals, permanent residency applications, or citizenship procedures, the legal side of living abroad can be exhausting.
Common Issues:
- Fear of deportation due to visa expirations
- Complex paperwork and expensive legal fees
- Limited rights compared to citizens of the host country
Immigration status uncertainty often leads to anxiety, especially for students and workers living on temporary visas.
6. Raising Children in a Different Culture
Pakistani parents living abroad often face the challenge of raising children who grow up in a culture very different from their own.
Challenges for Parents:
- Teaching Urdu and cultural traditions to children
- Preventing children from losing touch with their heritage
- Striking a balance between integration and preservation of values
Generational Gap:
Children may adopt the values of the host country faster, leading to cultural clashes within the family and feelings of frustration or fear of “losing roots.”
7. Mental Health Struggles
Because of all these challenges—identity crises, financial stress, isolation, and discrimination—mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout are common but often go unspoken in the Pakistani community.
Why Mental Health is Often Ignored:
- Stigma around discussing emotional struggles
- Lack of culturally sensitive counseling services
- Pressure to maintain a “successful” image for family back home
Acknowledging mental health needs and seeking support is crucial for the well-being of overseas Pakistanis, yet it’s one of the most overlooked aspects.
8. Disconnect with Pakistan Over Time
As years pass, many overseas Pakistanis find themselves feeling like outsiders in their own homeland. Changes in politics, economy, and society in Pakistan can make returning home, even for visits, emotionally challenging.
Signs of Disconnection:
- Difficulty relating to relatives who stayed behind
- Feeling alienated by changes in language, fashion, and attitudes
- Nostalgia for a Pakistan that exists only in memories
This “reverse culture shock” can be just as painful as the original move abroad.
While the life of an overseas Pakistani often appears glamorous from a distance, it is shaped by deep sacrifices, struggles, and silent battles. The challenges of living between two worlds demand immense emotional strength, adaptability, and resilience.
Despite these hardships, Pakistanis living abroad continue to contribute immensely—through remittances, representing Pakistan globally, and building bridges between cultures. Their stories are a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and flourish, even far from home.
For those still dreaming of moving overseas, it’s important to know that success abroad comes not just from hard work—but also from preparing emotionally for the unseen battles that come with a life beyond borders.
