International Labour Migration from Two Pakistani Villages with Different Forms of Agriculture

This paper is an analysis of the socio-economic situation of two Punjabi villages. It makes an attempt to explain why the villagers of these rural places have to seek work abroad. The first part of the paper deals with the agricultural conditions, the non-agricultural activities available to the villagers, and the budgets of different social categories found in the villages. The second part examines the effects of the process of migration on the young people. It particularly discusses the profile of the migrant, the problems faced by him before his departure, the remittances and their utilization, and the impact of emigration upon women's economic role in the villages and upon the traditional social conflicts. The important conclusion of the paper is that these villagers cannot ensure their social, economic, and cultural reproduction.