Abstract

Villagers of Chhina, Rawalpindi have been migrating overseas since the 1950s.Their households persist much intensity for development once because of multiple socio-economic factors i.e., limited natural resources and less productivity in agriculture. Unemployment, remittances, and, pleasing social status have played a part in the decision for overseas migration. 47.4 % of villagers as skilled and unskilled workers have been serving in eight different countries for a couple of decades. Overseas migration has been influenced by the interrelation of socio-economic, cultural, and kin ties. An altruistic spin opted by villagers to choose a strange region to meet hopeful socio-economic sustainability for their families in the native countries. They have strived for the well-being of their native dependents through remittance. The bulk of money in the form of remittances established a sustainable resource for the uplift of the deprived condition of migrant households.

keywords

Migration International Remittance, Altruistic, Socio-economic, Household




Introduction

Well-being transits a prominent socio-economic experience of an aeon. Human behaviour towards survival created opportunities to explore more and more for the betterment and to improve the best living standards in requisite social settings. Low expected income and unemployment pay way to a decision for migration (Tcha, 1995; Zachariah & Rajan, 2015). The current study is about moving abroad to earn a handsome amount in the form of remittances. Overseas migration is well well-developed phenomenon in poor countries. Migration is a procedure for inhabiting new destination settlements (Mohyuddin & Khan, 2015). People of developing regions, seem eager to earn sustained handsome wages. They adopted manners of earning by means of remittances.

The role of remittances on the share of key expenditures also reflects well-being status (Ahmad et al., 2007). Remittances are a major driving force moving towards prosperous regions of the globe. Better earning opportunities for livelihoods attracted skilled and unskilled workforce of Pakistan, especially to economically deprived rural households. Remittances emerged as an altruistic inclination for migrants to remit to native communities (Tchouassi & Sikod, 2010). In the village, environmental, socio-political and socio-economical factors opened way to the international migration. These have various levels of intensity developed a trend for migration especially altruistic spin among migrants for the wellbeing of the departed region. Migration has actively been adopted as a household strategy for social well-being by means of an important income source (Hisaya, 2007; Thibault, 2016; Tcha, 1996)

This research explores the rural part of Potohar, where overseas migration has opted for the socio-economic well-being of native dependants. An important role played by history is to encourage people of the village to depart for abroad. People of the village had been exposed to overseas migration for many years. Economic fortune was the first ever closely adapted phenomenon in the locale. Migration started in the 1950s for economic well-being. Overseas migration is not the outcome of a single factor. In various human societies, migration as a group or individual is caused by multiple factors. Pothohar is a region with uneven land and a less favourable environment to generate income to support the households.




 Limited natural resources and less productivity in agriculture are less satisfied as it is an arid zone that depends on rain. Less job opportunities conical the hope so they strived to find a better chance for earnings in foreign countries. Currency differences/Remittances become a major driving force for the people of China as compared to unsatisfactory native earnings. Unemployment also served as a dominant push factor for people of the locale to seek jobs through overseas migration. It forced people to leave their native regions including bad experiences while searching for jobs. The labour force of the village, working in both Europe and the Middle East possessed similar nature of jobs. As we see remittances have a major role in poverty reduction (Farooqe et al., 2020). Remittances have the potential to translate the goals of the migrants. The migrants and remittances developed and expanded the levels of expectations of the household members in the native region. 

Despite improved infrastructure, good educational facilities and skill enhancement locally, young people rush towards the opportunity for remittances to adopt maximum possibilities. Even they have to manage expenses through loans, property selling or savings for overseas migration. Dynamics of internal and international migration in rural Pakistan, Persuasion of jobs, business, services and luxuries housing, better health facilities and exciting ways of education, native people make decisions to move towards developed areas (Mohyuddin, 2012; Oda, 2007; Kelsall, 1969).

People adopt strategies for gaining economic resources in business as well. The majority of migrants found abroad a good earning opportunity as the first priority for well-being. With the passage of time, a better future and social status became common push factors. Migration inserts auxiliary well-being in the development of economic and social conditions (Castles, 2000; Lee et al., 2008). Supporting individuals, agents, and the representatives of migrants to the destination country were found the family members, head of an institution, and person among a peer group of migrants. With the additional adversities to manage resources, migration, though contributes to income uplift parallel, it explored insecurities involved in the decision for international migration. Overall socioeconomic uplift shrinks the hardships faced by families and the migrants especially (Klemens, 2019; Akira, 2011). 




Decision-making is an important feature which was taken by parents, spouse, self, friends and other non-related persons. Mostly, the decision was taken by parents. Migrants related their potential for investing physical energies, skills and time. Therefore, the majority of migrants are their 31 to 40 years of age. One person leaves his home country for the rest of the other members of the household. By all, remittances have become a strong pull factor for overseas migration, as the rest of the factors are incorporated to intensify the magnetism for foreign money. 

Remittances seemed the second faith for the people of the locale to raise their socioeconomic and socio-cultural status. The foreign money served as hope for economic sustainability to reduce problems of rural households that may lead to overseas migration. (Lucas, 2014; Farah et al., 2018; García, 2006).People focused all their potential towards earning opportunities abroad. They earn and remit money to the household. The study disclosed many features related to overseas migration that single person cause of sustained living standards for left behind family.




Locale of Present Study

The present study was conducted in the village of China, district of Rawalpindi, in the Potohar region, Pakistan. Potohar is the administrative part of northern Punjab which lies from about 32.5?N to 34.0?N Latitude and from about 72?E to 74?E Longitude. It has five districts; Rawalpindi is one of the largest populated districts. It covers 5,285 square kilometres area. The district is boarded by Jammu Kashmir, Jhelum, Abbottabad of KPK, Attack and Chakwal. It is situated at 517 meters above sea level. It is well known for receiving remittances from various parts of the developed world. 

Research Methodologies

Qualitative research methodologies were used during the ethnographic study. Methods were used including rapport building, socio-economic survey, participant observation, key-informant interviews, in-depth interviews, case studies, and focus group discussion for in-depth study. Rapport-building methods were used by introducing the aims and intention of research in the locale. The procedure provided opportunities to collect data in informal settings by involving the daily lives of migrants and their families. Key informants, the local residents were willing to give relevant information asked about and to build mutual trust between respondents. 100 survey forms were conducted by members of households. 52 households were selected who directly and indirectly received international remittances sent by the migrant family member. The focus of the study was those households whose members were migrants and receiving remittances on a regular basis. Purposive sampling and snowball sampling were used for an in-depth study about altruistic spin opted by the people of households. In conducting in-depth interviews, most of the interviews provided a gateway to explore detailed information regarding reasons for migration and the demand for remittances for the household. The case study covered basically in-depth information from a single person. Three focus group discussions were done from one of them was organized by a key informant consisting of eleven migrants who were doing work in different countries. The rest of the two focused group discussions were randomly organized by female members of the locale. Arguments were exchanged about the importance of migration, remittances for survival, main reasons and perceptions of people about overseas migration. The research method enabled the researcher to conduct in-depth ethnographic fieldwork to gather relevant information to achieve the aims of the study. 

Findings and Discussions

In the current study, findings disclosed about developed trend for overseas migration in village China. It is about 52 households exclusively those members have migrated for the economic well-being of natives. Overseas migration was adopted for socio-economic uplift for dependants. In broad-spectrum economic and social development is usually linked with Migration (Brown et al., 2013). People of locale are influenced by multiple factors for overseas migration. They found themselves seeking good jobs abroad. Socio-economic survivals were also related to the decision to overseas migration. People have decided to send one person overseas to remit money. Household nourishment is based on remittances (Inchauste & Stein, 2013). Good earnings, sustained income, and better earning opportunities have been exposed in the journey towards migration. People of the village have been striving for remittance for up to four decades. They found that overseas is good as compared to struggle in their native country. They even have to cope with strange environments to gain economic benefits through remittances (Khan, 1982). Better earning opportunities for livelihoods attracted skilled and unskilled workforce of deprived households. In the village, many demographic and socio-economic features have been manipulated with the essence of overseas migration.

History of Migration in the Locale

History has played an important role in encouraging the people of the village for overseas migration. Foreign money was the major driving force behind overseas migration in the village (Hernández-Murillo et al., 2011). The first ever migrant departed in 1956 with the reason of economic well-being. He departed for England, and after being settled, he sponsored his family and relatives for overseas migration. This change generated a continuous momentum towards a new opportunity for economic well-being. Further, through joining the armed forces, people of the locale gained foreign exposure but that was confined. Overseas migration for earning has opened the minds of people to think abroad. Through the exchange of foreign experiences, remittances were progressively assumed as a good source for extravagant living standards. The following table represents a series of overseas migrations through time. It shows the picture of the ascending trend for overseas migration. 

Table 1

Trend of Overseas Migration with Time

S. No	Years	Migrant No	Percentage
1	1971-75	01	1.5%
2	1976-80	01	1.5%
3	1981-85	00	00
4	1986-90	01	1.5%
5	1991-95	07	10.8%
6	1996-00	11	16.9%
7	2001-05	20	30.8%
8	2006-10	20	30.8%
9	2011-12	04	6.2%
10	Total	65	100.0%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

Table 1 reflects the increasing trend of overseas migration. The above table found every coming year, trends for overseas migration are entirely adopted. Up to 30% of migrants moved abroad within five years. With the passage of time, this intimated migrant's relation with their native region. Moreover, It paid the way to avail the opportunity for remittances. Rural life also played an accelerating force. People of the village stayed tied in strong kin to meet overseas migration. It has introduced a new way of earning for rural communities. Due to overseas migration, there are multiple factors raised as socio-economic relief for villagers. It is basically a human response to a string of economic, social and political impel their environment (Hellmann et al., 2021).




 

Factors of Migration

Overseas migration in the village was based on a strong motive and was economic in nature. Village with uneven land has a lesser favourable environment to generate income. The present study showed the following reasons stimulated people of the village to go abroad.

§  Historical background of overseas migration in the locale

§  Limited natural resources and less productivity in agriculture

§  Unemployment

§  Currency difference/Remittances

§  Unsatisfactory pay

§  Limited economic resources for business

§  Less productivity in native business

§  Social status and gain of prestige

§  Better future for native household

§  To consulate future related dreams

§  Prevent sudden economic shock

§  Better livelihood for dependants

§  Desired socialization

§  To meet household consumption

§  Socio-economic well-being for household

The majority of migrants found abroad as good earnings in the shape of remittances. They were unsatisfied with their earning in their native country. They try to find satisfactory income for the household (Imran et al., 2018). A better future and social status have also compelled overseas migration. Unemployment served as a dominant push factor for people of the locale to seek jobs. Table 2 reflects collections of stimuli for overseas migration in the village.




Table 2

Factors Played Role in Overseas Migration

S. No	Parameters	Household No	Percentage
1	Social Status	07	13.5 %
2	Unemployment	24	46.1 %
3	Unsatisfactory pay/Remittances	12	23.1 %
4	Good opportunities	09	17.3 %
5	Total	52	100.0 %

Socio-Economic Census Survey

Factors Played Role in Overseas Migration

S. No Parameters Household No Percentage

1 Social Status 07 13.5 %

2 Unemployment 24 46.1 %

3 Unsatisfactory pay/Remittances 12 23.1 %

4 Good opportunities 09 17.3 %

5 Total 52 100.0 %

Socio-Economic Census Survey

The region of Potohar possesses arid land. People locally own small pieces of land and grow seasonal crops to fulfil household needs. Agricultural production and livestock depend upon rain. People continuously strived for other income-generating opportunities in order to meet dry weather and buy wheat for households. Due to small pieces of land, it was very difficult to generate business for people of the locale thus, they chose multiple professions to generate income. Unemployment forced people to leave their native region including bad experiences for searching jobs. The table shows that 46.1% of people are deprived of unemployment. Inadequate education level especially of male members, thus do not qualify for professional expertise, further educated people were conscious due to unsatisfactory pay and prevailing socio-political conditions in the country. 23.1% of people migrated due to unsatisfactory pay in their native country. In society, there is a need to live in good and honourable life, so people collectively develop or adopt some life patterns. These life patterns relate to social status. Overseas migration is adopted for desired social prestige. The table shows that 13.5% of migrants have strived for social status which is defined as high prestige. Households are enabled to enjoy a good life and status due to remittances. Native people preferred jobs in foreign countries. For them, search a job in their native country means wasting the best time of their life which proves time-consuming with a low salary and low prestigious life. Further people of locale leave their homes even for good opportunities within the country thus they believe that it's better to leave home for abroad where currency difference is an attractive incentive. 

Army retired persons with experience abroad through government jobs, have been interviewed. According to them persons living abroad can earn a better income and enjoy a comparatively healthy working environment. They prefer to send their sons abroad for work rather than to join government services in their native country. People adopted it as a household strategy to fulfil their social, economic and political stability and standards. This is a profound feature of migration which relieved the deprived workforce of the village to adopt an altruistic trend in response to favoured socio-economic motives (Akira, 2011). Migrants as workforce were distributed in both European and Middle East countries through skilled and unskilled labour for host countries.




Distribution of Overseas Migration on Globe

Members of 300 households in the village have direct or indirect exposure to countries around the globe. They have been serving 8 different countries with skilled and unskilled labour. Their country-wise distribution as the workforce is depicted through the following calculations.

Country Wise Distribution

Table 3

Distribution of Migrants on Globe

Area	Countries	Number	Percentage
Middle East	Saudi Arabia	16	38.5%
	Dubai	05
	Masqat	04
Europe	Italy	23	61.5%
	Spain	11
	France	01
	England	03
	Germany	02
	Total	65	100%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

 The majority of migrants with 61.5% were living in Europe while 38.50 % were in the Middle East. Among European countries, Italy seemed to be the most accommodating country as a maximum number of migrants were living there while in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia was the most favourable country for migrants of locale.







Job Wise Distribution in the Middle East and Europe

The nature of the job reflects significant effects on earnings. Migrants by and large were working as laborers in the Middle East. They have also been serving overseas as skilled labourers like drivers, plumbers, tailors and waiters. Findings are summarized with following Table 4. It has been accounted that 36 % of migrants are unskilled labour while 54 % with skilled labour.




Table 4

Job Wise Distribution of Migrants in the Middle East

S. No	Nature of Job	Migrants No.	Percentage
1	Labour(Construction)	09	36%
2	Driver	08	32%
3	Labour (Factory)	02	08%
4	Plumber	03	12%
5	Electrician	01	04%
6	Waiter	01	04%
7	Tailor	01	04%
8	Total	25	100%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

 Migrants living in Europe were also working as a skilled and unskilled labour force. It was found that European countries seemed to be more suitable for migrants. The labour force working in both Europe and the Middle East possessed a similar nature of jobs. It was observed that comparatively in European countries; migrants have been establishing and running their own businesses. The following table provides detailed findings.










Table 5

Job Wise Distribution of Migrants in Europe

S. No	Nature of Job	Migrants No.	Percentage
1	Labour (Factory)	18	45.0%
2	Labour (Construction)	05	12.5%
3	Daily waged	04	10.0%
4	Petrol Pump	04	10.0%
5	Shop Keeper	04	10.0%
6	Business	02	05.0%
7	Plumber	02	05.0%
8	Waiter	01	02.5%
9	Total	40	100%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

 


The nature of the job reveals the earning potential of people. Migrants of village though serving 8 different countries as overseas work force both skilled and unskilled laborers. Europe seemed a potential region with reference to earning opportunities and also variations in the nature of work as compared to the Middle East. Further, it was found; that despite of fact that people of the village went abroad for many years, education and the nature of jobs remained almost the same with little concentration.

Financial Sources for Migration

Limited resources to support households stimulate family members to explore ways to raise income. The instinct to earn more is driven by many socioeconomic, power gain, status symbol, socio-political and cultural factors. Remittances have the potential to translate the earning goals of migrants. Striving for migration was to arrange financial aspects for most. For this purpose, villagers made arrangements in different ways and means. It was found in the present research work that households who send their family members abroad for earning purposes have managed expenses through loans, property selling or savings.

Villagers have made special savings over a long period of time to migrate overseas for remittances. A household regulates reproduction and production, therefore, some kind of collective resources for livelihood are maintained (Rabianski, 1971). These resources have ultimately been used to send a person to developed countries to earn handsome amounts for household needs and benefits. People were inclined towards taking loans rather than savings and selling their properties. Here property was a land piece owned by the family which was the least option to sell because it related to inheritance and social standard. Very early migrations mostly were sponsored through loans managed by migrant or their family but due to good earnings dominantly via remittances, they were able to manage some savings for further to send family members to developed countries.

Table 6

Financial Ways and Means Used By Households

S. No	Ways and Means	Household No.	Percentage
1	Loan	25	48 %
2	Property Selling	05	10 %
3	Savings	10	19%
4	Loan, Property selling	05	10%
5	Loan and Savings	07	13%
6	Total	52	100%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

 

Above in Table 6 out of 52 households, 48 % arranged solely by loan represent financial stress absorbed by them. 19 % of households managed by giving away their savings. Similarly, loans and savings have also been chosen primarily. The selling of property served as a financial resource to meet the needs of overseas migration. People of the village seemed reluctant to sell their assets, especially property and inherited land. They used to take loans from well-off members of the community to send their family members abroad for remittances. Rural households especially with limited and unreliable resources for livelihoods take financial stress for overseas earning opportunities. They seemed optimistic about returning loans and managing financial stress through remittances with handsome earnings.




Human Resource for Migration

Overseas migration is a phenomenon with a complex nature. It has dynamic aspects to cope with, not only by migrants but also households overall. Still between family members and household, a third party remains involved to accomplish opportunity for overseas remittances. The facilitating party as shown in the table was an agent, family members, the head of an institution, and a person among a peer group of migrants.

Table 7

Human Resource for Migration

S. No	Resource person	Migrants No	Percentage
1	Agents	40	62%
2	Kin-related	21	32%
3	Institution head	02	03%
4	Peer group	02	03%
5	Total	65	100%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

 Present work showed that 62 % of migrants managed to go abroad with the help of agents especially local agents who belonged to the same locale. 32 % of migrants have the middle party of kin-related persons. People of the village were well connected in socio-economic ties along with kin and affinal relations. Village lives are interconnected with socio-economic, cultural and kin ties. It played its role in the decision for overseas migration and remittances. 







Decision-Making for Migration

Migrants have to live a major part of their lives overseas away from family in strange environments. Decision-making was developed as an important feature to look for. Household nourishments depend on one person as a migrant. Different relations have been participated for taking the decision to send one person overseas.




Table 8

Decision-Making for Migration

S. No	Parameter	Household No.	Percentage
1	Parents	21	40%
2	Self	18	35%
3	Spouse	6	12%
4	Others	7	13%
5	Total	52	100%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

Table 8 shows migrants from 21 households decided by parents to go abroad to earn while migrants from 18 households decided by themselves. 6 households were motivated by spouses with hope for their children's future. 7 households of migrants were convinced by friends and other non-related persons. These parties played a major role in developing trends for overseas migration in rural communities. People of different ages preferred remittances to boost their domestic socio-economic prevalence

Age Distribution

The age of humans relates to their potential for investing physical energies, skills and time to improve their economic well-being. Migrants of the village were with age range from 20 to 50 years. The majority were 31 to 40 years of their age. The table reflects that young men of locale strive for overseas at the very early age of their lives. They focused all their potential towards earning opportunities overseas. They have preferred to settle themselves in a strange environment as soon as possible.




Table 9




Age Range of Migrants

S. No	Age Range	Migrants	Percentage
1	20-30	16	24%
2	31-40	29	45%
3	41-50	14	22%
4	Above 50	06	09%
5		65	100%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

 

Migrants spend the most productive part of their lives overseas and return to their homeland at a late age of their lives. Thus village holds a good number of retired and overseas returned men with pensions, savings and assets making their living comfortable.Total




Occupations of Migrants

Earning is directly related to those skills and resources that a human being acquires. Overseas migrants of locale have strived for good earnings irrespective of skills they have. Table 10 reflects the nature of the jobs of migrants working overseas. 

Table 10

Occupations of Overseas Migrants

S. No	Occupation	Migrants No.	Percentage
1	Labor Construction	14	21.5%
2	Factory Labour	20	30.7%
3	Driver	08	12.3%
4	Patrol Pump	04	6.2%
5	Shop Keeper	04	6.2%
6	Business	02	3.1%
7	Tailor	01	1.5%
8	Waiter	02	3.1%
9	Electrician	02	3.1%
10	Plumber	05	7.7%
11	Daily wages	03	4.6%
12	Total	65	100%

Socio-Economic and Census Survey

 The majority 30.7 % have worked in factories of broad. 21.5% of people are involved in performing labour work on construction sites. Skilled workers have been a good majority with 12.3% as drivers. Good earnings are related to the acquisition of working skills. People acquired some skills in driving, technicians, tailoring and construction to perform their jobs well in strange countries.







 

Level of Education

The significance of education is an undeniable fact in the current world. The exploitation of new earning resources and potential for learning new skills became relevant to education. Even adaptation to strange regions was affected by the level of education. The following table contains the level of formal education of migrants. It was reported by respondents that the significance of education was felt by members of households and migrants. 

Table 11

Level of Education of Overseas Migrants

S. No	Level of Education	Migrants No.	Percentage
1	Illiterate	00	00.0%
2	Primary	03	04.6%
3	Middle	18	27.7%
4	Metric	27	41.5%
5	Intermediate	13	20.0%
6	B.A	04	06.2%
7	Total	65	100.0%

Socio-Economic Census Survey

 




Table 11 provides details of migrants with respect to their education. Migrants with 41.54 % were metric with the majority. While middle and intermediate were 27.60 % and 20.00 % respectively. The maximum level of formal education for migrants is B.A with less representation. Formal education has a direct relation with age. Young males striving at a very early stage for overseas migration seemed less attentive towards formal education. They mostly acquired secondary education with extension learning working skills. They equipped them with skills informally from social settings to gain working benefits.







Tribulations on the Way to Migrants

 Migration to a strange region has not been an easy act to cope with. Migrants have to go through a number of stresses, variable in nature and intensity. Economic, physical, emotional, socio-cultural and many other forms of problems come across that migrants have to face alone and with little support. They have faced obstacles in managing pressure through agents, residence, job hunting, coping environments and the culture of strange places. It affected their working potential. Migrants faced challenges that were slightly elaborated in the present study.







Stress by Agents and Relatives

An agent is one of the most dominant human sources through whom migrants find their destination overseas. This destination unlocked ways of socio-economic uplifting for left-behind households. 62% migrants of from villages were living in different countries of the globe. They came across fake hopes from agents, demanded large amounts of money and created difficulties through the slow procedure for awarding visas. Even migrants have to back home country due to financial loss, psychological pressure from agents and even fear of hope for the next overseas migration. In the process of getting a labour visa, migrants wait for sponsorship so they experience different agents with strong determination for migration; even they have experienced worse situations with those who financially sponsored them.

Migrants also bond with relatives when they go overseas. Through them, they have prior information about the country of destination but they have to abide by relatives as they sponsored them. During an interview, a young migrant of 28 years of age, sponsored by blood relatives, working as a waiter at a restaurant in Spain, shared all about his smooth settlement abroad because of his vigilance, education and learning capacity. He got a job very early without further financial and moral support from relatives. As a result, he was pressured by a relative who sponsored him to pay back them first and then send money to his parents. He continued to struggle to pay back first them, then was enabled to support his family in the native village which took three years of his emotional upheaval as unable to send a handsome amount to his mother in his native country.

 

Challenges for Adaptation

 Sudden adjustment is quite difficult in an unknown place especially which has totally different climatic conditions. Further food patterns daily life, and socio-cultural, religious and language differences in foreign countries have new challenges for migrants. People of rural backgrounds with limited skills and education have found hurdles from the beginning of their first journey towards a new and strange country. Weather temperature differences compromised their health ill for many early days. Though most migrants were gone through local agents and relatives, the initial period of adjustment for the majority of migrants was hard to cope with. Adaptations to new places consumed time and physical and emotional stress further affecting the working potentials of migrants. Earning has a direct relation with the adapting and stress-managing capabilities of migrants. Those who were well-adjusted; more they could earn and remit to their native households. Migrant from villages started migration at the age of 20 and spent most of the best part of their life overseas for remittances. Early migration helped to cope with inexperienced hurdles faced by migrants.







Residence Restraints

A place for taking rest and spending time after doing job hours affects earning capacity especially when the nature of the job is physically exhausting. Migrants were supported by their relatives to provide residence. Those living in European countries have mostly lived with relatives until they got well settled. Migrants from the Middle East managed to live in groups. Construction labourers who share working place and the same country manage to share residences to reduce the cost of living. They had to face stress regarding residence. But those migrants who had no reference or person overseas had to manage by themselves and found it much more difficult. In daily life religion, neighbourhood and peer groups of different countries also affected migrants, as they had to go through the stress of second citizenship. The wave of violence in the native country also negatively affected migrants, especially after terrorist attacks on America. Communication problems due to language differences were hard tasks to manage for migrants too.

Language




Language is fundamental for human beings to communicate with one another. The difference in language influences almost every aspect of the life of a person. Migrants who left their homes for remittances have gone through various problems because of language barriers. One of the case studies is worth reporting here.

Table 12

Case Study	Name:	M. Anwar
	Age:	68 Years
	Education:	Middle
	Marital Status:	Married
	Country to Migration:	Spain
	Year of Migration:	1998

 

Muhammad Anwar 68 years of age was married and belonged to a joint family. He had 6 dependants including one father, one brother, three sons and a wife. He had a formal education up till Middle while his father brother and wife were illiterate. Agricultural activities were a source of livelihood. His father, brother and wife used to work on their own agricultural land to manage a household. Muhammad Anwar after completing his education joined the Armed Forces to earn and raise income for his family. He served Armed Forces for 20 years as "Sepaahi". After retirement, he came back home and found that the economic condition of the household was not manageable with seasonal agricultural production and his pension. He put his physical effort into fields and at the same time hunted for a job. After 5 years of effort, he got a job as a security guard with a salary of Rs.4000 per month. He found it was not enough to reduce the poverty of households. He decided to migrate overseas for remittances. He borrowed money from his relatives and applied with the help of his uncle who was already living abroad. He went to Spain where his uncle was already settled, thus he did not face residential problems but due to a lack of information and education, he took time to adjust to a new environment. He started work as a labourer. He switched work to many places.

He found a lack of education as a big hurdle to coping with language problems. Due to severe language issues, he had to face short-term unemployment. Switching from one place of work to another caused him great stress. He had to go through the problem of language for early 5 years. According to him, language was the biggest hurdle for him to earn a good amount of money abroad. His time of 5 years went in vain due to language differences. After a long period of time, he got settled there to earn remittances. He had been living in Spain for 14 years at the time of the interview. He settled his two sons in Spain. He raised the economic status of his household by eliminating poverty with the help of remittances. Remittances are not easy to earn but when migrants get settled after passing through all strange hurdles, they significantly affect native households through remittances.

Expectations of Household Members

Members of households live together and tie in various kin and affinal relations. Mutual expectations exist among family members and people connected through socio-economic, as well as cultural and community relations. Migrants and remittances develop or extend levels of expectations of household members. In the present study, 52 households had a minimum number of migrants which was 1 while the maximum was 2. The range of household members with 1 migrant abroad was from 1-12. Providing a range of expectations from him became an additional stress to manage though sometimes it served as the only way for satisfaction and happiness in a strange country to fulfil the expectations of behind family members. Thus remittances became the ultimate focus of migrants in order to fulfill their expectations and deal with all facing stress.

Remittances as a Pull Factor

The present study assumed a number of factors behind overseas migration. Remittances are a major attraction for the people of the village. They have managed all unexpected problems with the happiest incentives of remittances. Despite of improved infrastructure, good facilities for education and skill enhancement locally, young people rush towards opportunities for remittances as soon as possible. They believed in remittances as a better income source. Migrants spend their golden age in maximum striving opportunities for earning remittances in strange regions with the hope of exciting luxury social and economic status for them and their loved ones dependants.







Table 12 represents the age distribution of migrants overseas. It also showed the duration of stay abroad for the purpose of remittances. It gave a picture of how long they have to live apart from their families and country. This time and duration of stay were given to those persons who were living as overseas migrants in destination countries while conducting field research. This table showed that migrants from the 31-40 and 41-50 age range, were staying overseas for 13.8 average years of their lives. The following table has been given for further particulars. By all means remittances have become a strong pull factor, as the rest of the factors are incorporated to make a stronger appeal for foreign money. Remittances seemed the second faith for people of the locale to raise their socio-economic and socio-cultural status. 

Table 13




Age Versus Average Part of Life Lived in Overseas

S. No	Migrant’s Age Range (Years)	Numbers of Migrants	Collective Stay Duration (Years)	Average Stay Duration(Years)
1	21-30	14	68	09.1
2	31-40	32	291	13.8
3	41-50	13	179	13.8

Mode of Money Transfer

Foreign money has been transferred by migrants in various ways. Worldwide available channels of transfer variably have been preferred by migrants of the village. The locale of the present study received remittances through the following modes.




 




Table 14

Mode of Transfer

S. No	Mode of Transfer	Households No.	Percentage
1	Bank	14	26.9%
2	Hundi	28	53.9%
3	Cash	02	3.9%
4	Hundi and Bank	08	15.3%
5	Total	52	100.0%




 




Table 14 reflects chosen ways to remit money are "Hundi" and bank. "Hundi" is an informal channel to transfer money while a bank is a formal channel to remit money. The informal channel has been considered a less expensive, convenient and trusted way because of the involvement of a trustworthy person, relative or family member and as per the knowledge and prevailing culture of sending money..




Flow of Remittances

Foreign money serves as an important factor in reducing the problems of rural households. The flow of money depends upon the needs of members of the family. Special occasions, accidents or disasters also have played their part in driving remittances in greater amounts as well as more frequently. Matrimonial ceremonies, death, and serious health issues of family members have been accommodated with the help of foreign money. Income sources of households other than foreign money, have also been influenced by the flow of remittances. These income sources have proved alternatives to remittances. These have served as relief for migrants so he has been working with less economic stress abroad. He could focus attention on earning money for tasks beyond the basic needs of life. The flow of remittances has been followed by native household consumptions. The flow of remittances is six to eight times per year in this village. Normally, the household receives remittances every month before. Priority in spending remittances has been another stimulus.







Migrants have to send greater amounts of money with less frequent intervals for house expansion or construction, to start new businesses or to buy assets. Thus life plans with heavy demand for investment have been materialized. Currency differences have served as an incentive to spend the bulk of foreign money for long-term plans. Basic needs have been also fulfilled by sending small amounts but at regular intervals. The duration of stay of migrants has been directly related to the amount and frequency of remittances. As ultimate concern of migrants has been their native household. When they have been adopted migrated country tries to send more money to the native region for the socio-economic uplift of families. Earning in abroad far away from family causes various hard times to face alone but in return well-being and happiness for family and household provide satisfaction to migrants. Socio-economic turns brought by the continued flow of remittances. 

Socio-Economic Wellbeing

Socio-economic landscapes of locale revealed through trend for overseas migration. Remittances appeared to influence its rural being into new dwellings. Overseas migration has been adopted for the survival of the basic unit of the household. Through remittances, people have originated sustained income as compared to native earnings. It raised financial stability at the household level. People met handsome amounts in the shape of remittances which reduced economic pressure. The poverty of household hold has been diminished through upward income mobility. Remittances have contributed to 29% greater monthly average income as compared to native ones. People meet daily consumption and also for satisfied living standards. Economic uplift lets people experience better healthcare systems (Mohyuddin et al., 2016). Good opportunities towards education and materialistic uplift have been visible. Residents are enabled to enjoy luxurious renovated houses with adding household accessories. Traditional rural dwellings have turned into modern ones which typically influenced its rural being. Households have also been solaced in social denial by foreign money. Even deprived castes were cherished by better social standards. Remittances have been found a sign of richness. The families of emigrants increased their livelihood and assets with the help of remittances. It raises the purchasing power of households (Khan et al., 2009).







The concerned community is rural in nature. It is basically an agrarian society that depends on rain. Remittances boosted their capacity to grow crops by adding fertilizers, refined seeds and water storage through tube wells. They have been enabled to add uncultivated land to be used with facilities of new technologies. The bulk of money and technology were used for multiple cultivations. They have analyzed that households receiving remittances have reduced financial constraints and raised food surplus remittances have also credit to create an opportunity for business and investment. People have been engaged in different business activities by sustaining income from remittances. Massive capital has been involved in native investment. Bulk of money has provided stability from sudden financial shocks. It also played a constructive part in the welfare of villagers. It has proved potential to generate income opportunities for other members of the native community. Remittances have been spent both on consumption and in business activities. Household welfare status has been gained by remittances in key expenditures on eatables. (Ahmad et al., 2010; Thibault, 2016). Overseas migration proved future insurance for economic growth within the country. Traditional rural dwellings have changed by overseas migration in the village. Finical pressure from migrants has been reduced through business and investment. It also created a socio-economic bond between migrants and left-behind household members. 

Conclusion

Pakistan is a developing country with enriched and diverse socio-cultural living patterns. No doubt a great variation in socio-economic status is noticeable throughout the country, particularly in Punjab and most specifically in the Potohar region. The Potohar is a region of Pakistan, incredibly famous for international migration and remittances. However, people from Potohar keep them busy in various economic activities to cope with the economic uncertainty in the country. They not only try to avail economic opportunities within the country but also join risks to migrate to other countries for remittances. Developed countries are a major source of remittances. It's away from any doubts that overseas migration is a major source of foreign exchange. Social and economic reasons force people to migrate. It opens the way to enjoy exciting opportunities related to the well-being of the household and overall well-being by pushing a person towards exciting economic opportunities. A prime goal of a household is to attain privileged revenue (Klemens, 2019). Therefore, one must have to adopt a strange country for the sake of the well-being of the entire family and household in the native country. It may serve as a formula to determine the socioeconomic status of native families. The study examined details regarding the transitional pattern of preferences of livelihood at the household level by the family members of the migrant.

Though migration and remittance help to increase economic and social status in society some social impacts on migrant families could be discernible. In migration the person has to leave home, his family, neighborhood and social relations. He could not directly represent his presence in family and social affairs. The social networks social ties and relations feel a lack of personal contribution and sharing feelings and care. He tries to earn more money for his family but is unable to perform social obligations directly in his native home. When a person leaves his family and migrates from his native region. Other things that have been affected that are caring for children their education and health to fulfilling some social obligations. Migration has contributed to improving housing, food and clothing, health and better education and financially empowered households in the native village. Migrants have to play an altruistic role in the overall socio-economic survival of native families. Remittances have served as a translation of socio-economic and emotional obligations by migrants for native family members. Dynamic influence of remittances disclosed that socio-cultural and altruistic nature has been connected with overseas migration.

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