A. EMPLOYMENT ACHIEVEMENTS 1993-96

Recognizing unemployment as one a major national problem the Peoples' Government adopted a four phased approach towards the problem:

1. Employment through the Public Sector:

The Peoples Government is not apologetic in any way for employing hundreds of thousands of young men and women in the public sector. While the Peoples Party expects that over the course of time the focus of job creation be in the private sector it was, in view of the existing economic realities, unwilling to allow the youth of Pakistan to be left in despair and poverty, thereby leading to social conflicts, rising crime and probable public disorder. Therefore, the Peoples Government took the bold step of using the public sector to take the slack in the creation of employment opportunities, although this made it more difficult for the Peoples Government to meet some of the commitments made by the Caretaker Government of Mr. Moin Qureshi to international agencies viz. budget deficits. The Peoples Party rejects the allegations that political favouritism or corruption was employed in granting employment.

Those employed made a significant contribution to the country's social well being. For instance hundreds of thousands were employed in various government departments and agencies, 50,000 young women were employed as Lady Health Workers with another 45,000 under training. Thousands of teachers were appointed under the Peoples Government aggressive programme to wipe out illiteracy.
 
2. Employment through the private sector especially through foreign investment:

Foreign investment increased by $ 3 billion in the three years under the Peoples Government. This led to a large increase in the number of employed in the private sector. Major construction activity in the areas of power plants, pipelines and other infrastructural projects meant that a large number of people were gainfully employed during the period 1993-6. With major infrastructural projects and major private investment in the power, petroleum and chemical industries under implementation or sanctioned by the Peoples Government the serious problem of unemployment would have eased further in the next few years. The Peoples Government ensured that as part of the privatization process the employment of workers was fully protected with no terminations allowed except for misconduct. The labour agreement negotiated with the WAPDA union during the privatization of the Kot Addu Power station has been hailed as a perfect example for protecting labour rights in a privatization programme. The ever increasing number of vacancies being advertised in the newspapers for employment in the private sector are proof of the Peoples Government's policies were succeeding in easing the problems of unemployment.
 
3. Special programme for training in technical trades and domestic services:

The Peoples' Government started the Special Programme for Training in Technical Trades and Domestic Services aimed at reducing un-employment, meeting the skilled workers requirements of the industries/employment market, assisting in self-employment and facilitating export of manpower. The programme envisaged training of about 50,000 workers in 24 different technical trades and occupations. The scheme launched in March 1994 was funded by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) by generating financial resources through enhancement of service charges by September 1996. 22,500 trainees have already completed different training courses while 5,500 were presently undergoing training. An amount of Rs.210 million was made available to finance the programme during 1995-96. Continuity in the programme would have undoubtedly benefited the labour market to help solve, the problem of un-employment. The dismissal of the Peoples' Government has thrown this important problem into cold-storage and deprived thousands of men and women the chance for skill-training and livelihood.
 
4. Employment through self employment:

The Peoples Government under the Small Businesses and YIPS programmes over 150,000 young and deserving persons were provided financial assistance to start businesses and create self employment.

5. Employment through export of labour:

The Peoples' Government implemented an aggressive policy to export manpower and had high level meetings in this regard with a number of brotherly and friendly states. In 1996 alone over 120,000 people found employment abroad.
 
B. EMPLOYMENT AGENDA FOR 1997-2002

The Peoples Party categorically reject the Caretakers policies of terminating hundreds of thousands of government employees and employees of banks/DFIs/semi autonomous bodies the Peoples Party condemns the decision of PML-N and other political parties to accept the Caretakers decision in this regard.

The Peoples Government will continue its policy for maximum employment through infrastructural development, private sector investment, training, employment through self-employment schemes and export of labour. The Peoples Government will place a high priority in creating employment opportunities.