Ali Raza Khan 
Pakistan ILO partnership is increasing with to create more productive jobs, improve the skills of the workforce and generate better opportunities for the youth. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari held separate meetings with the Director-General of the ILO, Gilbert F. Houngbo, in Islamabad on October 6. The discussion covered a range of key areas, including international certification, skills development, and labour migration.
The engagement is reflective of Pakistan’s attempt to connect its large youthful workforce to the changing needs of the international labour market. Stronger cooperation with the ILO could improve professional training, internationally recognised certification, safer migration pathways, and stronger labour-market institutions, and also help Pakistani workers to compete for decent employment opportunities in global destinations.
Pakistan ILO partnership Calls For Enhanced Support For Skilled Youth Jobs
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that greater Pakistan ILO partnership facilitation for international certification and professional training for Pakistan’s skilled workforce was important. The goal is to align vocational and professional skills with global labour-market demands, potentially improving the recognition and mobility of Pakistani workers seeking jobs overseas.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the rejuvenation of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and said increased collaboration with the ILO would be a way to support industrial growth, productivity and labour-market competitiveness. More productive opportunities for young Pakistanis could be created through stronger links between companies, training systems and employment policies.
ILO has reiterated its availability to work with Pakistan on decent work, social justice, labour migration, skills development and occupational safety. Such cooperation provides an opportunity for Pakistan to strengthen its domestic employment systems, while preparing workers for sectors where the international demand for certified and specialised skills continues to evolve.
Safer Migration From Skills To Global Jobs
President Asif Ali Zardari proposed a partnership between the ILO and Pakistan titled “From Skills to Global Jobs” which would focus on aligning technical and vocational education with labour needs in destination markets. The proposed approach could help to forge stronger links between training programs and employment opportunities across the Gulf, Europe, East Asia and other emerging destinations.
The president also asked for technical assistance to develop a comprehensive Fair and Safe Labour Migration Framework covering recruitment, skills certification, employer matching, migration costs, contracts, protection abroad and reintegration. These steps could give Pakistani workers a more structured approach while tackling key issues related to international recruitment and overseas employment.
Pakistan has also called for better labour market information systems for evidence-based workforce planning. Pakistan’s ratification of ILO Convention No. 160 on Labour Statistics and other labour-related instruments in March 2025 lays the foundation for improving data, institutional capacity, and implementation of international labour commitments.
Labour Strategy Of Pakistan Bolstered By Decent Work Agenda
The discussions also highlighted the Decent Work Country Program 2023–27, which identified employment, social protection, labour standards, and workplace safety as key areas for stronger implementation. The agenda is particularly relevant when considering Pakistan’s efforts to improve conditions in both formal and informal employment and to expand opportunities for a growing workforce.
Occupational safety is another area where cooperation is expected to retain an important role. With support from the Pakistan ILO partnership, Pakistan is finalising a National Occupational Safety and Health Policy and implementation framework which will pave the way for greater protection in the workplace and improved standards across different sectors of the economy.
For Pakistan, the broader partnership consolidates youth employment, skills certification, opportunities abroad and worker protection into one labour-market strategy. Further cooperation with the Pakistan ILO partnership could then help to create a more globally integrated workforce and reinforce the institutions necessary for decent employment and sustainable economic participation.
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