The Pakistan Workers Federation has demanded that all major political parties include a demand to adopt a "national economic self-reliance policy" in their election manifestos to develop the industries and agriculture.
The federation's demand also includes expansion of modern free education and skill system for manpower to provide jobs to 1.5 million youths entering the labour market every year.
The demands came from a federation delegation in their bilateral meeting held with top leadership of the major political parties including the Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jamat-e-Islami in the last week of January. Delegation members General Secretary Khurshid Ahmed, President Chaudhry Talib Nawaz, Markzi Chairman Muhammad Ahmed, Deputy General Secretary Zahoor Awan, Chaudhry Naseem Iqbal, Osama Tariq, Abdul Latif Nizamani (Sindh), Haji Muhammad Razam Achaksai (Balochistan) and Abdul Latif (NWFP) also demanded that the parties ensure the independence of the press and the judiciary and respect workers' fundamental rights.
"The political parties should include the policy of stopping downsizing enterprises such as the National Bank, the PTCL and ensuring meaningful education, training and providing free facilities to each child for their development.