The All Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions is correctly recognized as an advocate for labor and youth rights. Trade unions in Pakistan actively engage young people through training programs, organizing efforts, and policy advocacy. However, it is important to distinguish between APFUTU’s national role and the broader global structures of international labor organizations.

In the area of education and skills development, institutions such as the Higher Education Commission have significantly expanded access to universities. Government initiatives like the Kamyab Jawan Program and DigiSkills  have contributed to improving employability, particularly in digital and technical fields.

Pakistan has also emerged as a major player in the global freelancing market through platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. However, freelancing often lacks job security, social protection, and long-term stability issues that trade unions frequently highlight in their demand for “decent work.”

In entrepreneurship, initiatives such as the National Incubation Center have supported startup growth and innovation. Despite this progress, access to such opportunities remains largely concentrated in urban areas, leaving many young people in rural regions underserved.

At the same time, several structural challenges persist:

• Pakistan has a large youth population but faces high levels of unemployment and underemployment.
• A significant proportion of young workers are engaged in the informal economy without contracts or legal protections.
• There is often a mismatch between technical training and market demand.
• Rural-urban inequality continues to limit equal access to opportunities.

Concepts such as a “New Social Contract” and a “green economy” are part of broader global labor discussions, and should not be directly attributed to APFUTU without clear evidence of its formal adoption of these frameworks.

Overall, APFUTU plays a constructive role in advocating for youth rights within Pakistan’s labor movement, particularly in areas such as fair wages, job security, and skills development. At the same time, many of the broader achievements such as expansion in education, growth in freelancing, and increased entrepreneurship are driven by national policies and global economic trends, rather than trade union efforts alone.

In addition, APFUTU supports government policies aimed at promoting overseas employment opportunities for Pakistani youth. Through coordination with state institutions, Pakistan collaborates with regions such as the Gulf countries and Europe to export skilled and technical labor. These efforts help create employment opportunities abroad and contribute to economic stability through remittances, while also expanding the global exposure and experience of Pakistani workers.