Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 22 January 2026
UNIC-Islamabad
Media Update
22 January 2026
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ILO
PRESS RELEASE
National Workshop Advances Dialogue on Fair Recruitment in Pakistan
Strengthening fair recruitment practices is essential to safeguarding workers’ rights, improving labour migration governance, and ensuring that recruitment processes support decent work outcomes for both workers and employers.
ISLAMABAD (ILO News) – Improving oversight of private employment agencies and advancing fair recruitment practices emerged as critical priorities for improving labour migration governance in Pakistan, participants at a national workshop on ILO Convention No. 181 emphasized. Convened by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), the workshop enabled stakeholders to identify key regulatory and institutional gaps and build momentum for reforms aligned with international labour standards and national priorities.
The workshop was organized under the ILO’s project “Enhancing Partners’ Capacity on Decent Work and International Labour Standards for Labour Migration from
Pakistan,” within the framework of Centres for Migration and Development (ZME) Pakistan, co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU).
Pakistan is one of South Asia’s major labour-sending countries. According to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), more than 727,000 Pakistani workers migrated abroad in 2024, primarily to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Since 1971, over 10 million Pakistanis have accessed overseas employment through formal channels, generating billions of dollars in remittances that support economic stability and household resilience.
At the same time, labour mobility within Pakistan is extensive, with millions of workers moving across provinces each year through private employment agencies
and labour contractors. While these intermediaries play an important role in connecting workers to jobs, weak regulation and uneven oversight expose workers to risks such as excessive recruitment fees, misinformation and unequal treatment, underscoring the
need for a more coherent recruitment governance framework across both domestic and international labour markets
Geir Tonstol, Country Director of the ILO in Pakistan, noted that “ILO Convention No. 181, together with the ILO General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment, offers practical tools to strengthen worker protection, promote transparency, and improve accountability of recruitment intermediaries across labour markets.”
Maria-José Poddey, Country Director of GIZ Pakistan, emphasized that “Promoting safe and regular migration remains a shared priority. Germany and the European Union are committed to supporting Pakistan in strengthening regular pathways that are transparent, skills-oriented, and grounded in mutual benefit. This workshop is therefore not a standalone event. It is part of a broader mission to strengthen migration governance and align Pakistan’s systems with international labour standards.”
Sohail Khwaja, Joint Secretary Emigration, MOPHRD, stated that “ILO Convention No. 181 on Private Employment Agencies provides an internationally recognized framework to regulate recruitment and placement services across sectors and labour markets. While ratification of an ILO convention is a sovereign national decision, this workshop marks an important first step in a broader advocacy and consultation process to examine the Convention’s provisions, assess regulatory gaps, and explore its relevance within Pakistan’s governance context.”
The workshop marked the first step in a broader ILO-led advocacy initiative, supported by German Development Cooperation and the European Union under the GIZ ZME programme, to enhance institutional capacities on decent work and international labour standards in the context of labour migration from Pakistan.
Convention No. 181 (C181) is an international labour standard developed by the ILO’s constituents (governments, employers and workers) and adopted at the International Labour Conference. It establishes a comprehensive framework for the registration, licensing and effective regulation of private employment agencies, and for the protection of workers who use their services.
For further information please contact:
Muhammad Numan
Communication Officer
Email: nu...@ilo.org
Mobile: +92 303 5000041
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UNESCO
Media Advisory
International Day for Education – Open Dialogue on “Shaping Tomorrow: Youth in Action for Better Education”
When: Friday, 23rd January 2026, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG), F-7/4, Islamabad
What: On the eve of the International Day of Education (24 January), UNESCO, in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), is commemorating the day by placing youth at the center of the conversation on education’s future under the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education.” The celebration will provide a meaningful platform to engage students and young people as active partners in shaping learning opportunities that respond to their aspirations and the rapidly evolving demands of the 21st century. Through dialogue, reflection, and youth-led engagement, UNESCO and FDE reaffirm their shared commitment to empowering young learners as agents of change and advancing SDG 4 by promoting inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
Who: Adults, teachers, government officials and development partners
Programme Agenda:
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10:00 to 10:05 AM |
Recitation from the Holy Quran |
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10:05 to 10:15 AM |
Welcome remarks by the College Principal |
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10:15 to 10:25 AM |
Address by UNESCO Country Representative |
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10:25 to 10:35 AM |
Address by Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training |
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10:35 to 11:05 AM |
Open interactive Dialogue with students - “Shaping Tomorrow: Youth in Action for Better Education” led by Minister of State for Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. |
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10:05 to 11:35 PM |
Performance by Students |
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11:35 to 11:50 AM |
Souvenirs Distribution |
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11:50 to 12:00 PM |
Closing remarks by Federal Directorate of Schools |
Note to the Media Participants:
You are kindly requested to assign a reporter/cameraperson to cover the event.
For RSVP please contact:
- Zahra Sohail, Cell: 0309 099 3005, Email: z.so...@unesco.org
We look forward to your participation and coverage.
