PR NO. 344 Pakistan Reaffirms Unwavering Solidarity with Palestinian People at ILO

Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, delivered a poignant statement on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states at the 352nd Session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body. Minister Chaudhry Salik expressed profound gratitude to the ILO for its comprehensive report, "A Year of War in Gaza: Impacts on Employment and Livelihoods in the West Bank and Gaza Strip." The report highlights the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict, which has displaced over 2 million Palestinians, destroyed 70,000 homes, collapsed essential services, contracted real GDP in the Occupied Palestinian Territory by 32.2%, and decimated Gaza's economy by 84.7%. "The Palestinian people's resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship is a testament to their unwavering spirit," Minister Chaudhry Salik emphasized. "However, the international community must act collectively to address this humanitarian crisis." The labour market has also been severely impacted, with unemployment in the Occupied Palestinian Territory surging to 51.1% and Gaza facing an unprecedented unemployment rate of 79.7%. This crisis has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians without work and hope, forcing many into precarious informal employment with low wages, harsh conditions, and nonexistent social protection. Minister Chaudhry Salik commended the ILO's emergency programme and endorsed the "building forward better" approach, emphasizing the need for decent work opportunities, social protection for vulnerable populations, and employment-intensive infrastructure development. "The international community must unite to support recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territory," Minister Chaudhry Salik urged. "The future of Palestine depends on our collective resolve to promote dignity, justice, and sustainable development."

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