“Prosperity of the Worker, Guarantee of National Progress: The Historic Performance of the Workers’ Welfare Fund and the Vision of Its Leadership”

The Workers’ Welfare Fund of Pakistan is a practical embodiment of the state’s welfare philosophy for the working class, aimed not merely at financial assistance but at providing a dignified, secure, and stable life. Since the establishment of Pakistan, the labor force has remained the backbone of the national economy, and on this foundation the state accepted the responsibility that the hands which tirelessly drive the wheel of national development should also see the light of education, health, housing, and social protection reach their homes equally. The Workers’ Welfare Fund is a continuation of this very vision, which today, under the leadership of Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Secretary Workers’ Welfare Fund Zulfiqar Ahmed, has taken the shape of an effective, transparent, and modern institution.

In recent years, the practical measures taken by the Workers’ Welfare Fund are not merely statistics; they have brought real change in the lives of millions of working families. The Fund has focused primarily on housing, education, health, and vocational training, as these are the pillars upon which the social progress of any family is built. The completion of 380 welfare projects across the country is proof that the institution is not confined to planning alone but has also achieved remarkable success in implementation. These projects include 88 housing schemes, 155 educational institutions, 96 health centers, and 41 vocational training institutes, all directly addressing the needs of the working class.

In the housing sector, the performance of the Workers’ Welfare Fund deserves special attention. Labor complexes constructed in Islamabad, Punjab, and other provinces are not only examples of quality construction but also incorporate modern urban facilities. The labor complex established in Zone Five of Islamabad, where electricity was recently inaugurated by Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, is a clear example of the institution’s serious efforts to provide dignified and secure housing to workers. Under this project, 1,508 flats and houses will soon be allotted to industrial workers purely on merit, marking the beginning of a new life for low-income labor families in the federal capital.

Similarly, the completion of 504 state-of-the-art flats in the Taxila Labor Complex reflects that the Workers’ Welfare Fund has moved beyond traditional construction and is now aligned with modern requirements. The funding of all houses and flats constructed in Punjab by the Workers’ Welfare Fund Islamabad is proof that equitable distribution of resources is being ensured at the federal level so that workers at the provincial level may also benefit equally from these facilities.

In the field of education, the Workers’ Welfare Fund has established a wide and effective network. Through welfare schools, free and quality education is being provided to the children of workers, where not only academic activities but also character building and co-curricular activities are given due importance. Alongside this, educational assistance up to the postgraduate level is being provided to the children of workers studying in public and private institutions, opening the doors of higher education for a segment that previously lagged behind due to financial constraints.
In the health sector as well, the efforts of the Workers’ Welfare Fund are commendable. Through hospitals and dispensaries established across the country, quality medical facilities are being provided to workers and their families. These centers not only offer treatment but also promote the concept of preventive healthcare, strengthening the idea of precaution before illness.

Special grants and social protection measures have become the hallmark of the Workers’ Welfare Fund. Under the Marriage Grant, financial assistance of six hundred thousand rupees is provided for the marriage of every eligible worker’s daughter, which is a significant facility in today’s times. Through the Death Grant, immediate assistance of one million rupees is provided to the family of a worker who passes away during service. It is a matter of pride that there is currently not a single pending case of marriage or death grant, which is a clear testament to the institution’s administrative capacity and transparency. Similarly, under the Hajj facility, 85 workers are sent every year to perform Hajj at the expense of the Workers’ Welfare Fund, serving not only as a social welfare initiative but also as a source of spiritual fulfillment.

For institutional improvement and transparency, the Workers’ Welfare Fund has introduced modern reforms. The implementation of a Management Information System has integrated and digitized all fund-related matters, strengthening oversight while ensuring the timely provision of services to beneficiaries. The cashless and digitized disbursement system has made payments faster, safer, and more transparent, significantly reducing the chances of corruption.

Under the concept of data-driven welfare, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank’s DEEP project marks an important milestone. This initiative aims to promote evidence-based policymaking so that future decisions are grounded in real needs and on-the-ground realities. Public awareness outreach campaigns have also been significantly enhanced, involving print, electronic, and social media, as well as visits to industrial units, to ensure that the maximum number of workers are informed about their rights and available facilities.

The establishment of a Business Expansion Unit for revenue growth reflects that the current leadership is focusing not only on expenditures but also on increasing income. The establishment of a business center in F-6 Islamabad, inaugurated by Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, is a project that will play an important role in the financial sustainability of the institution in the future and serve as a model for other public-sector organizations.

All these initiatives are in harmony with the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in which the working class is recognized as a true partner in national development. Likewise, the concept of national stability and institutional strength envisioned by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is also clearly reflected in these reforms. The administrative guidance of Federal Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and the practical efforts of Secretary Workers’ Welfare Fund Zulfiqar Ahmed have given the institution a new direction, where decisions are being made on a daily basis that will set examples in the future.

Overall, the Workers’ Welfare Fund has emerged today as an institution that considers the prosperity of workers as the foundation of national development. Transparency, modernization, social justice, and practical service have become its identity. This institution is not only a support system for the present generation of workers but also a guarantee of a secure future for coming generations. This is why it is justified to give due credit to Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Secretary Zulfiqar Ahmed for this exemplary performance, as under their leadership the Workers’ Welfare Fund has proven that if intentions are sincere, direction is clear, and leadership is strong, state institutions can truly transform people’s lives.

The current performance of the Workers’ Welfare Fund is not merely the success of a government institution; it reflects a mindset in which the state views its working citizens not as a burden but as a strength. In an era where inflation, unemployment, and social insecurity most severely affect the labor class, the timely assistance, organized planning, and transparent administrative structure of the Workers’ Welfare Fund have emerged as a strong ray of hope. The institution is giving practical shape to the reality that the concept of a welfare state is not limited to slogans but can be realized through effective policy, honest leadership, and continuous oversight.

The political insight and worker-friendly vision of Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain have infused new energy into the Workers’ Welfare Fund. Decisions taken under his leadership are not temporary but have long-term impact, aimed at making the institution financially stable, administratively strong, and publicly trustworthy. Likewise, the administrative expertise and daily oversight of Secretary Workers’ Welfare Fund Zulfiqar Ahmed have translated this vision into reality. Zero-pending grants, timely project completion, and digital reforms are proof that the institution is now working not only on paper but also on the ground.

It is also noteworthy that the development vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the concept of national stability of Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are clearly reflected in these initiatives, where strong institutions, transparent systems, and public welfare are linked with national security and development. The Workers’ Welfare Fund has become a practical example of this national thinking.

If this pace, transparency, and sincerity are maintained, the Workers’ Welfare Fund can, in the coming years, become a role model not only for Pakistan but also for other countries in the region. The prosperity of workers is, in fact, the strength of the national economy—and this is precisely the message that the performance of this institution clearly conveys.