Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 13 May 2025

This Media Update includes:

UNICEF & UNWOMEN - PRESS RELEASE : Pakistan Business Council, UNICEF, and UN Women Release New Report on Family-Friendly Workplace Policies

UNICEF & UNWOMEN

PRESS RELEASE

Pakistan Business Council, UNICEF, and UN Women Release New Report on Family-Friendly Workplace Policies

Karachi, 14 May 2025 - The Pakistan Business Council (PBC), UNICEF, and UN Women jointly launched a landmark report, "Mapping Family-Friendly Workplace Policies in Pakistan," underscoring the critical role of family-friendly policies in supporting the social sector, businesses, employees, and Pakistan's broader economic growth. The report offers valuable insights into how progressive workplace measures-such as parental leave, flexible working arrangements, and childcare support-can enhance employee well-being, child development, promote gender equality, and contribute to sustainable economic development.

"For the private sector, family-friendly policies have evolved beyond compliance or corporate goodwill-they are now essential for cultivating a modern, resilient, and high-performing workforce. Businesses that invest in supporting working parents benefit from stronger talent retention, lower absenteeism, and greater gender diversity. This report acts as a practical resource, presenting a variety of adaptable models for companies to tailor to their specific needs. It offers a starting point-or a next step-for organizations aiming to create more inclusive, supportive, and future-ready workplaces," remarked Ehsan Malik, CEO of PBC.

Over 112 million children in Pakistan require care, yet formal childcare support remains limited, posing a significant challenge for working parents, particularly mothers striving to balance their professional and caregiving responsibilities.
"Family-friendly policies are key to unlocking children's potential, empowering women, and driving economic growth in Pakistan," said Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan. "With only one in five women in the workforce, flexible work arrangements, access to affordable, quality childcare, and support for working mothers are essential. These policies foster early childhood development that shapes a child's entire future and contributes towards a more inclusive, productive Pakistan."

"When workplaces adopt family-friendly policies, they not only support parents-they help build a more gender-diverse and inclusive workforce. These policies challenge traditional gender roles, promote shared caregiving responsibilities, and contribute to shifting social norms both in households and at work. By enabling all caregivers-women and men alike-to thrive professionally while nurturing their families, we lay the foundation for stronger communities and a more equitable, prosperous future for Pakistan," highlighted Jamshed Kazi, Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan.

This comprehensive report examines family-friendly workplace policies in Pakistan with a focus on childcare initiatives and their impact on economic growth, gender equality, and workforce retention. Employing a mixed-methods design-including surveys, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and observational visits in urban centers such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad-the study integrates both quantitative and qualitative data to provide robust insights.

"An ideal workplace is one where both women and men are provided with equal opportunities, safety, and professional growth. We envision an environment where women are empowered to excel according to their talents, and men stand beside them as supportive and respectful colleagues. Together, women and men build stronger institutions, economic stability, and a more inclusive society. Mutual respect, collaboration, and equality at the workplace are the pillars that lead us toward a brighter and more developed Pakistan," said Ms. Shaheena Sher Ali, Minister for Women Development, Government of Sindh, in her keynote speech.

The report urges businesses to start by understanding the needs of their employees and to explore sustainable childcare models appropriate to their industry. Offering flexible work arrangements and employer-supported childcare solutions are among the most effective ways to support working families and foster a more inclusive workforce.

The report also emphasizes the need to train managers to recognize and reduce bias around caregiving, build cross-sector partnerships to support childcare infrastructure, and embed family-friendly policies in business practices and operations to ensure long-term commitment to support working families.

For further information about the report contact:

Erum Fareed, Communications Officer- UN Women at erum.fareed@unwomen.org, or 92 346 8502146

Karen Reidy, Chief of Advocacy and Communication, UNICEF Pakistan at kreidy@unicef.org or +92 302 828 4385

ILO

PRESS RELEASE

Pakistan Marks International Nurses Day 2025 with High-Level Dialogue on Decent Work for Nurses

Islamabad (9th May, 2025)- The International Labour Organization (ILO) commemorated International Nurses Day 2025 with a national webinar on the theme "Decent Work for Nurses - Investing in Safety and Economic Growth." The event brought together representatives from key institutions including the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC), the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (MoNHSR&C), the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development (MoOPHRD), and technical experts from ILO to reflect on the urgent need to invest in Pakistan's nursing workforce and align national frameworks with international labour standards.

Welcoming the speakers and the audience, Mr Geir Tonstol, Country Director, ILO Country Office for Pakistan, paid tribute to nurses as the backbone of the healthcare system and champions of the care economy. He emphasized that decent work for nurses must include fair pay, safe and respectful workplaces, social protection, career growth, and the right to freedom of association. Citing Pakistan's nurse-to-population ratio of just 0.5 per 1,000, he called for greater investment and policy reforms to address workforce shortages and promote gender-responsive healthcare systems. Mr Geir also highlighted ILO's contributions through the ILO-OECD-WHO Working for Health Programme in Pakistan and reaffirmed the organization's support to the Government of Pakistan in the ratification of ILO Convention 149.

Ms Musarrat Rani, Member, PNMC, shed light on the multiple challenges nurses face in Pakistan-including high turnover, poor working conditions, and gender-based barriers to leadership. She said that migration of the workforce due to burn out and lack of support has led to a shortage of 1.3 million nurses in the country. She appreciated the initiative of the implementation of the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Policy Framework (2023-2035) and recent reforms under the PNMC Act and called for stronger partnerships with organizations like the ILO, more budgetary support for the capacity building of nurses, and the empowerment of professional associations to safeguard the future of the profession.

Dr Sabeen Afzal, Director Regulations/Council, MoNHSR&C, presented the Government's vision to close the nursing workforce gap and improve healthcare delivery. She reported a 29% increase in nursing institutions and growing youth interest in the profession. Yet, she acknowledged persistent issues, including faculty shortages, weak quality assurance, and urban-centric deployment. Dr Afzal highlighted that the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Policy Framework (2023-2035) is a strategic response to these challenges, focusing on four key pillars: governance and regulation, education and training, labour market dynamics, and quality assurance. She also shared the Ministry's Enhancement Roadmap, which includes expanding nursing education infrastructure, introducing evening shifts, offering more scholarships, and enabling international employment through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with countries like the US, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands, National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) preparation, and targeted training.

Ms Maren Hopfe, Technical Officer, Health Service Sector from ILO Geneva, provided an overview of key international labour standards relevant to the nursing sector. She highlighted the importance of the Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149)and the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190)in healthcare settings and promoted the ratification of both conventions to to strengthen national frameworks that uphold workers' rights, ensure safe and decent working conditions, and protect health and care workers against violence and harassment.

Ms Rabia Razzaque, Senior Programme Officer at ILO Pakistan, presented the findings of a legal gap analysis comparing Pakistan's laws with ILO Convention 149, which was conducted with the support of the ILO-OECD-WHO Working for Health Programme. She noted that while the new nursing policy incorporates some articles of the convention, existing frameworks are fragmented and do not sufficiently cover private sector or voluntary nursing roles. She emphasized the need for a unified, inclusive policy that ensures fair working conditions, professional development, and collective bargaining rights for nurses aligned with international labour standards. Ms Razzaque also advocated for the integration of occupational safety and health (OSH) protections, especially given the increased risks faced by nurses during health emergencies like COVID-19, emphasizing that a safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work.

Concluding the session, Mr Raja Shahroze Abbas (MOPHRD) reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to advancing decent work for nurses, both domestically and abroad. The representative confirmed that the ratification of Convention 149 is a priority and that stakeholder consultations will be launched. Updates were also shared on efforts to align nursing education with international standards, develop targeted certification pathways with National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and map international labour markets to facilitate safe and structured migration through the Overseas Employment Corporation.