ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo discussed ways to further strengthen Pakistan’s longstanding partnership with the global labour body, with a focus on decent work, workers’ rights and social justice.
Houngbo, who arrived in Pakistan on four-day visit, held courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, marking the start of an intensive programme that will take him from the federal capital to Karachi and Lahore. The visit is his first official trip to Pakistan since assuming the ILO’s top position in October 2022.
The ILO chief’s schedule brings him into contact with Pakistan’s top political leadership, employers and workers. He is due to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, besides engaging with the chief ministers of Sindh and Punjab during his provincial visits.
A very warm welcome to our Director-General @GilbertFHoungbo on his first official visit to Pakistan.
Excited to accompany him during his visit as he meets ILO’s constituents to advance decent work and social justice. https://t.co/UF0yakpN08
— Geir Tonstol (@gtonstol) October 6, 2026
Perhaps the most closely watched part of Houngbo’s visit will be his trip to the Gadani ship recycling yards in Balochistan, where worker safety and environmental concerns have long been central to discussions surrounding the industry.
At Gadani, the ILO chief will see initiatives supported by the organisation to make ship recycling safer and more sustainable. The visit is expected to put occupational health and safety, working conditions and environmental standards firmly under the spotlight.
The visit was underlined by provincial authorities, who have already coordinated security, transport and logistical arrangements for the ILO delegation’s trip to the ship recycling yards.
Houngbo’s Pakistan visit comes as Islamabad seeks stronger international cooperation on employment, skills development, labour migration and protection of workers.
In a meeting with Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Tuesday, the minister stressed the need for adequate labour protections for Pakistan’s large freelance and digital workforce. He also highlighted safe and dignified migration, fair recruitment, skills development and workers’ rights as key areas of cooperation with the ILO.
The two sides also agreed to intensify efforts to equip Pakistani workers with skills aligned with international standards and modern labour-market requirements. The ILO reaffirmed its support for improving workforce skills and expanding opportunities for Pakistani workers in the global labour market.
In Karachi, Houngbo will attend the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP), bringing the ILO chief together with representatives of the country’s employers and business community.
His Lahore programme will shift the focus towards workers and industry. He is scheduled to meet workers’ representatives and visit Millat Tractors, where he will engage with plant-level workers and representatives of the Workers’ and Employers’ Bilateral Council of Pakistan (WEBCOP).
Beyond diplomatic meetings and ceremonial engagements, the visit is expected to serve as an important platform for examining how Pakistan can translate labour commitments into safer workplaces, stronger worker protections and better employment opportunities.
ILO and Pakistan have described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen their longstanding partnership and advance common priorities surrounding decent work and social justice.
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