Search for a command to run...
Return migration, while a growing phenomenon globally, remains underexplored in the context of reintegrationchallenges, particularly among younger expatriates and skilled professionals. This review critically examinesthe socio-economic, cultural, psychological, and institutional barriers faced by return migrants in Pakistan.Drawing on global and regional migration literature, with a specific focus on extra-regional return migrationbetween 2010 and 2022, the article highlights how issues such as skill mismatch, identity crises, reverse cultureshock, and inadequate policy support hinder successful reintegration. Despite returnees’ potential to contributesignificantly through human capital, financial resources, and transnational linkages, structural impedimentsoften limit their impact. By employing a systematic six-step literature review approach, the study identifieskey reintegration themes and policy gaps, offering targeted recommendations for strengthening reintegrationframeworks in Pakistan. It argues that a multi-dimensional strategy—encompassing economic inclusion,psychosocial support, cultural sensitivity, and institutional reforms are essential to harness the full potentialof return migration as a development tool.