Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Labour, Mr. Fazal Shakoor Khan, represented Pakistan at the 113th International Labour Conference held in Geneva. Addressing the conference, the provincial minister expressed Pakistan’s strong interest in the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) efforts to provide technical assistance. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive development, employment generation, and the promotion of human rights across the Asia-Pacific region. In his speech, the minister emphasized the growing importance of multilateral cooperation in today’s interconnected world. He acknowledged the ILO’s crucial role in safeguarding labour rights and promoting global peace. He praised the ILO for its technical support, its leadership in setting labour standards, and its initiatives to promote peace in the region. Mr. Fazal Shakoor Khan urged for increased institutional and donor support to enhance employment, rights, and economic development in the Asia-Pacific. He highlighted Pakistan’s significant progress over the past year, including the ratification of three key international conventions related to forced labour and labour statistics. He reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue technical cooperation with the ILO to promote reforms in labour institutions and ensure better protection of workers’ rights. He also noted Pakistan’s intention to ratify two additional ILO conventions by the end of this year. Online
The provincial minister commended the ILO Director-General’s report on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Expressing deep concern over the destruction of infrastructure, restricted access to employment, and economic sanctions, he said that the current situation in Palestine have severely impacted the livelihoods of the Palestinian people. He stressed that Palestinian workers and employers are facing conditions contrary to the core principles of the ILO Constitution.
Calling upon the international community, he urged immediate action to protect the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for all regional and global initiatives aimed at ensuring social justice, decent work, and inclusive development.
In conclusion, Mr. Fazal Shakoor Khan expressed his gratitude to Japan for its initiatives in Asia, as well as to the ILO and Bangladesh for their continued cooperation.
