Constructing the 'New Worker-Self': Discursive Strategies in 'English Works!' Program brochures within the Pakistani Education System

•Utilizes Foucault's neoliberal governmentality to examine the 'English Works!' program brochures, elucidating their role in constructing the "new worker-self" in the Pakistani context.•Discursive strategies like student testimonials and skill emphases identified as mechanisms that advocate for market-oriented skills and individual agency.•Alignment observed between the brochure's message and global narratives of the "new worker-self," particularly in equipping individuals for the contemporary labour market.•Raises critical concerns about the program's focus, suggesting that it may inadvertently perpetuate socio-economic inequalities by marginalizing broader educational goals.•Questions the exclusion of attributes such as critical thinking, social engagement, creativity, cultural awareness, and social responsibility from the program's market-driven approach.•Contributes to both local and global dialogues on the integration of neoliberal ideologies in education, skills acquisition, and the construction of subjectivities suitable for the global labour market.•Flags concerns about equitable access to quality education and calls for addressing larger structural factors impacting marginalized communities in Pakistan. In the context of globalization, the emergence of the "new worker-self" archetype has gained attention, with English proficiency playing a crucial role in Pakistan's socio-economic landscape. This study examines the 'English Works!' program brochures using Foucauldian theory to understand the construction of the "new worker-self" narrative and its alignment with global discourses. Through discursive strategies like student testimonials and skills emphasis, the brochures promote individual agency and market-oriented skills. However, this focus on skills may overlook structural inequalities and broader educational goals, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to education. The study contributes to understanding the interplay of neoliberal ideologies, skills acquisition, and subjectivities in the global labor market.