2. THE NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT
The long journey of the people of Pakistan for an egalitarian Society based
on freedom and law has entered a decisive phase. We are proud that the
Pakistan Peoples Party has restored the right of the ballot, and through it,
the dignity of the people, by its relentless struggle against the forces of
rigging who were determined to destroy democracy, law and social justice
once for all.
The Pakistan Peoples Party is determined to defeat the enemies of the
people.
The enemies of the people, the reactionary forces, the forces of tyranny and
exploitation have been unable to defeat the Pakistan Peoples Party.
We salute the heroism of our martyrs, our workers and supporters. Their
blood, spirit and determination has proved the life, vitality and dynamism
of the Party. A morally victorious Part is prepared for electoral battle,
confident of a political victory against the forces of darkness. The nation
must be pulled from the abyss of despair.
As we enter the 21st Century, our guiding philosophy is " NEW SOCIAL
CONTRACT" which re-defines the relationship between the Federal Provincial
and Local "Public Private Partnership" in which Public and Private Sectors,
the state and people, work together in harmony.
Now, as we took forward to the victory of the Pakistan Peoples Party in the
general elections of October 1993, we are putting before the nation a
program to restore the dignity of people and open up new avenues for
national reconstruction. The people of Pakistan are our only resource and we
have based our program on their total participation in every sphere of
national activity.
The principal objective of democracy is unity. It is dictatorship which
fragments society. The system of democratic representation confines dissent
and conflict to a very narrow political circle and provides a civilized way
of resolving these.
People are the real producers of national wealth, The economic role of the
state is to make policies to ensure that people can utilize their full
potential. The aspiration for a better life is the driving force of
development. It is the duty of the state to liberate the creative energies
of the people. This is what we mean by Public Private Partnership.
Haunted by the past and apprehensive of the future, the people are asking:
Whither Pakistan? Time has come to turn from the precipice. Let us return to
the ideals and values that are the hallmarks of a Civilized society. We must
be prepared to honour integrity, humility, scholarship, vision, thrift and
hard work. We must respect achievement and value merit. We must be
unwavering in our commitment to meaningful institutional change, to raise
the quality of our social economic, and political life to a higher plane.
When the PPP Government was dismissed in 1990, it was made the subject of an
orchestrated campaign of calumny and disinformation. Its leaders and
Ministers were brought before specialty constituted courts on false charges.
Governments, like men are fallible and may make mistakes. But the fact
speaks for itself that not one of the charges brought against the PPP
Government could stand.
The People Party does not indulge in the politics of mudslinging. We stand
on our record. In the 20 months of the PPP Government, there was
unprecedented freedom of expression and political, activity; trade unions
and student bodies and women groups ware reactivated; political prisoners
were released. The press can bear witness that under the PPP government
there was no attempt to coerce pressmen.
Much is wrong in the country today. Much damage has been done to its
institutions and its laws. Corruption, inflation, lawlessness" crime, drug
abuse, have made it difficult far the ordinary citizen to earn their daily
bread. Economic mismanagement and fiscal irresponsibility, have ruined the
national economy and have mortgaged the welfare of our children and their
children. The national debt has almost doubled in the last three years.
All this is the bitter harvest of years of neglect and complacency, of
contempt for the rule of law and disregard of the people's rights. But it
can be put right if the nation sets about it with a will and with united
purpose.
Not everything can be put right at once. The PPP will make no tall promises.
We will not mislead the people in order to gain their votes. No government
can usher in an era of milk and honey overnight. But we will promise you
this. The PPP will give the country the leadership that it needs. We will
put the economy on track, combat inflation unemployment and the fiscal
deficit. We will bring together people from all classes, ethnic and
linguistic groups and all Provinces to work together in order to halt the
present decline, restore order arid purpose to our society and put the
country once again on the path of progress.
Pakistan must move forward fast. The country needs Good Government. A
Government that cares for the People. To this end the PPP shall serve the
four basic principles, Islam, National Unity, Economic Advancement of
Pakistan and the New Social Contract.
ISLAM IS OUR FAITH
We stand on the threshold of a new century:-
A century where the forces of extremism have given rise to fascism.
We repudiate the forces of fascism.
We symbolize the forces of enlightenment and freedom.
We are the heirs of Iqbal, Jinnah and Bhutto.
We are Muslims. We believe in IJMA.
We are not clerics. We do not favour oligarchies.
We represent a Muslim Philosophy and Culture where the beauty of Islam is
expressed through:
1. A Religion without discrimination of the rights of women and minorities.
2. A Religion of Fundamental Human Rights where the freedom of expression,
the freedom of association, the freedom of the ballot and the freedom of
worship is safeguarded.
3. A religion of Revolution, the first to give women the right to divorce,
alimony (Haq Mahar) and child custody.
4. A Religion of Equity where the weak, the oppressed and the exploited are
protected and safe guarded.
5. A Religion of Tolerance which recognizes and respects all the great
Prophets from Abraham Moses and Christ to the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
6. A Religion of Liberation - Liberation from Poverty, Backwardness,
Illiteracy, Slums, Superstition, Hunger, Disease and Tyranny.
WE WILL:-
(a) Defend the just Muslim causes from Kashmir to Palestine to Bosnia.
(b) Develop an Arc of enlightened Muslim thought by interacting with Muslim
thinkers in African, Arab and Asian Muslim countries.
(c) Form an Association of Muslim Women in Muslim countries with
Parliaments.
(d) Support NGOs in Pakistan dedicated to research institutes and promotion
of Islamic thought.
(e) Work for a constitutional majority to repeal and reform laws which are
discriminatory in nature or which undermine the sovereignty of Parliament.
A CHOICE BETWEEN UNITY AND ETHNICITY
The forces of tyranny unleashed on that fateful day on July 5,1977 have
fragmented our Nation.
This is an election to save the unity of our Nation defeating the forces
politically tearing it apart.
We repudiate the forces of Ethnicity.
We Repudiate the Slogans of "Jag Punjabi Jag"
"Sindudesh"
"Greater Pakhtoon Nation"
"Independent Baluchistan"
"Muhajir Nation"
The opportunists of different races. in pursuit of selfish personal ends
have exploited ethnic nationalism to maintain their stranglehold on power to
prevent the emergence of a strong progressive and prosperous Pakistan. They
have bean patronized by the forces of tyranny and dictatorship.
We represent the forces of the working classes, the oppressed and the down
trodden amongst all the ethnic groups.
We must rise above Ethnicity far our Survival.
Our roots lie amongst the whole people of Pakistan including al1 Punjabis,
Sindhis, Pakhtoons, Baloch, Muhajirs and Saraiki peoples.
We stand for justice equity, and participation for all in a federation where
each have sense of participation and believe it is their Pakistan.
STRUCTURAL CHANGES
Today the winds of disintegration are blowing across the world.
Geographical Boundaries are changing. New maps are being made.
With the collapse of communism, and the end of the Cold War, Ideology, has
taken a back seat.
The forces of Ethnicity and communal frenzy are tearing Societies and
Countries apart.
Today the songsters of ethnicity attempt to seduce our masses with empty
illusions of green gardens to come with the break up of the state.
They try to addict desperate people burdened with hunger and unemployment to
the thought that Independent Sindh / a Greater Punjab/a Muhajir Nation/Pakhtoonistan/a
Baloch State will solve all their problems.
They are wrong.
Shaikh Mujib told his people he would pave the streets of Dacca with gold
because Karachi was paved with gold. He was wrong. People in Dacca sleep on
pavements till today.
Yugoslavia disintegrated and instead of clear streams flowing in green
gardens rivers of blood flow.
Disintegration of Pakistan will accelerate economic hardship and cause
bloodshed. Our unity is in the interest of all the races and ethnic groups
which make up Pakistan. Our common prosperity lies in one common approach as
one Federation.
But a Federation where the internal colonial structures, exacerbating and
highlighting ethnic tensions and differences, are restructured to suit the
pluralistic nature of our federation.
Therefore we have called for a New Social Contract, basic structural changes
are needed as highlighted in the Social Contract in the following fields :
New Balance of Power.
New Electoral system.
New relationship between President and Parliament.
New Parliamentary Code.
Defence Committee of the Cabinet.
New method of appointments to higher Judiciary.
NEW BALANCE OF POWER
The unitary form of government created a sense of insecurity amongst the
smaller Provinces. This gave rise to the demand for Provincial autonomy.
Provincial autonomy gave rise to insecurity amongst the minority communities
in the Provinces themselves. This gave added impetus to ethnicity. The
Provinces railed against the Centre. The ethnic communities railed against
the Provinces.
At stake was the cake of development funds and jobs. Who was to get what and
who would decide it. The New Balance of Power aims to resolve this, We want
a balance of power between the Federation, Provinces, and Local Bodies.
Local bodies are not to be the handmaidens of the Province serving at its
pleasure and constituting a political slush fund for the party in power.
The experience of Centre - Province relations during the last few years
presents a sorry record. Provincial governments used their administrations
to subvert the Federal Government. Under-way Federal Government projects
were uprooted. Roads and railway tracks were blocked. Federal Ministers and
officials were framed in false prosecutions. Slanderous, and expensive,
advertisements were contributed in the national press and paid out of
Provincial funds in at- tempts to create disaffection against the Federal
Government. Such trends have to be combated and curtailed.
Without in any way restricting a Chief Minister's own right to dissolve his
Provincial Assembly we will introduce constitutional reform providing for
the instant dissolution of all the Provincial Assemblies whenever the
National Assembly is dissolved.
FEDERALISM AND DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY
We will adopt a dynamic approach in the Centre-Province and Province-Local
Government relations, whereby a harmonious balance is struck within the
federal framework so that each complements the other.
We believe that the solution of our problems rest in devolution of
authority, commensurate with responsibility to make democracy inclusive and
institutions autonomous.
Subject to our power to make constitutional amendments.
WE WILL :-
Reform the Local Bodies.
REFORMS TO LOCAL BODIES INCLUDE :
(a) Provincial governments will not be able to dismiss them arbitrarily.
This will strengthen the politics of pluralism.
(b) By means of monitored grants in aid, Local Bodies funds, spent on non
developmental expenditure, such as salaries and overheads, will be strictly
curtailed to 25% of total expenditure. The rest will go for Development and
each Councilor will get a due share to develop his area.
This will put an end to political victimization and greed, where Local
Council Chairman waste public funds on Pajaeros for personal use and take
out advertisements on political matters. It will ensure that bulk money is
made available for Water supply, sewerage, sanitation and road paving and is
used for the benefit of the masses.
(c) Ushr collection will be stream lined. We expect to get more than Rs. 4
Billion through this method. Half the money will go to Provinces and half to
the Local Bodies.
(d) From the resources of the Provinces, the Provincial Government will
spend 34olo according to its discretion. Seventy percent will be made
mandatory to be spent on an equitable basis of popular representation in all
the districts. This will ensure that Chief Ministers cannot whimsically
develop favoured areas and ignore others. It will bring an egalitarian
approach to the development of each part of the Province and thereby the
Federation. It will cool the hearts and minds of people and communities who
feel deprived in each Province. It will lessen the tensions in each Province
be it the Hazara and Pakhtoon communities in Frontier, the Pakhtoon and
Baloch communities in Balochistan, the Muhajir and Sindhi communities in
Sindh, the Punjabi speaking and Saraiki speaking communities in Punjab.
(e) Regular audits of Local Bodies and Provincial Government will be carried
out to ensure they do not make political payoffs in "written off loans". An
investigation of this kind of chicanery and corruption will be carried out
by the new Government of all Local Bodies and Provincial Governments since
1985.Corruption in a Local Body will lead to its dismissal. Corruption will
be regarded as theft. The money will have to be refunded.
FAIR ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Fair and free elections and party loyalty lie at the heart of our reform
package. The essence of an independent election lies not only in laws which
may be strong on paper but on personnel to ensure that those laws are
implemented.
ELECTION COMMISSION
An independent Election Commission is the need of the hour.
The Chief Election Commissioner will be nominated by the Prime Minister in
consultation with the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly of
Pakistan from a judge of the Supreme Court. The Government and opposition
will nominate one member each from the judges of the High Courts for the
Election Commission.
The Election Commission will appoint the Secretary and Additional Secretary
after consultation and approval of leader of the House and Leader of the
Opposition respectively.
A Commission will be set up to strengthen laws pertaining to Elections. The
Commission will give its findings within three months.
LIST SYSTEM
Our Parliament is dominated by representatives from the Feudal and Business
classes.
Legislation is affected by this class as Parties choose "winning" candidates
i.e., those who have the money and tribal connections.
The choice is often between opportunist and opportunist.
The People demand a truly representative Assembly.
Therefore, the Pakistan People Party will introduce a List System. An
additional number of seats will be added to the directly elected members.
They will be chosen on the basis of percentages obtained by political
parties in direct elections.
A minimum percentage of votes obtained will be fixed on the Federal and
Provincial levels for political parties to qualify for additional seats in
the list system.
Although the list system adversely affects the Pakistan People Party which
gets the largest share of seats in the present system, we are making this
sacrifice in the higher national interest.
VOTING AGE
Voting age will be reduced from 21 to 18 years.
JOINT ELECTORATE
Joint electorates will be introduced to give minorities a true end effective
voice in electing representatives and ending religious apartheid in the
country.
STAFF ASSISTANCE
Members of Parliament and Provincial Assemblies will be provided staff
assistance.
POLITICAL PARTIES ACT
POLITICAL PARTIES ACT will be made effective to ensure an end to floor
crossing and horse trading so that, once elections are over, a letter from
the Leader of the Parliamentary Party will automatically disqualify a
member.
I.D. CARDS
Use of I.D. Cards for Election purposes will be discontinued.
ROLE OF OPPOSITION
The Leader of Opposition will be entitled to the salaries, facilities and
protocol of a Cabinet Minister and the Deputy Leader of Opposition will be
entitled to those of a Minister of State. Similar provisions will be made
for the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of Opposition in the Provinces.
RE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER BETWEEN PRESIDENT PRIME
MINISTER AND PARLIAMENT
In five years, three parliaments have been dissolved.
In five years, three Prime Ministers have been sacked.
The sovereignty of Parliament must be restored. Power of the President to
dissolve Parliament will be repealed.
The Power of the Parliament as supreme Legislative body must be restored.
All Power belongs to Almighty Allah.
The People are the repositories of Allah's trust.
The Parliament is the agent of Allah's trustees.
Thus the sanctity of Parliament is the sanctity of AIlah's will as expressed
through the ballot box.
The Federal, Provincial Governments and Local Governments must work within
the framework of law.
The Concurrent List will be reviewed.
Any attempt by a Federal government, Provincial government or Local
government to destabilize each other will constitute grounds for its
dismissal through suitable judicial action.
The term of office at all levels President, Senate, Assemblies, Local
Bodies, Governors will be 4 years.
The Governors will be appointed by the Prime Minister in consultation with
the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly.
The President will appoint the Armed Service Chiefs but will not have the
power to dismiss assemblies or be consulted on the appointment of Governor
or Judges of the Higher Judiciary.
NEW CODE OF CONDUCT
The people of Pakistan are sick and tired of the perception that their
leaders are corrupt.
The years of dictatorship and non-Party politics has introduced a culture of
individualism and greed.
Some segments of parliamentarians have been behaving like warlords insisting
on jobs for kith and kin and forcing bureaucratic changes.
A new parliamentary code will be drawn up on the following basis :
Every minister will forego his or her right to apply for a loan from a
nationalized bank.
Every MNA and MPA will have to ensure that his/her kith and kin apply for
jobs through the Federal, Provincial and Local Public Service Commissions.
Every Member will submit to the National and Provincial Assembly Secretariat
a confidential report of their assets and liabilities in the event that they
are required in a court of law.
A law shall be passed to the effect that the President, Chief Justice and
Judges of the Superior Courts, Senior government officials, all members of
the Senate, National and Provincial Assemblies, shall annually declare their
income tax and wealth returns and in the event of being non tax payers, all
assets and liabilities to the respective secretariats or as otherwise
designated.
Every minister will visit each of the four Provinces once a month to meet
the public and redress their grievances.
No Minister or MNA / MPA will dictate to the Government who would be the SP
/ DC etc., in his area.
The bureaucracy will show due courtesy to each minister, MNA/MPA.
The salaries and facilities of Parliamentarian will be l0% more than the
highest paid civil servant.
The salaries and facilities of Parliamentary Secretaries, Ministers and
Ministers of State will be accordingly graded as will those of President and
Prime Minister.
NEW SOLUTION TO INTERNAL SECURITY MATTERS
Our Country has had three Martial Laws.
The eighth amendment with the power of the President to dismiss the Prime
Minister was justified by a segment of the population on the ground that the
President would represent the National security views of the Military
establishment. Thus if there was a divergence of views between the political
and military forces the President could dissolve the Parliament and the
country would be saved from Martial Law. The dismissal of the Junejo and
Benazir Bhutto Governments were widely perceived as dismissals brought about
by divergence of views on important National Security issues. Yet we have
seen that the Eighth Amendment does not work. Dissolution by the President
is unacceptable to the people at large. In the case of Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto's dismissal the very act of dismissal of a popular leader put rigging
on the anvil to prevent her return.
Thus the crisis deepened. The PPP notes that the Defence Committee of the
Cabinet exists since the days of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed
under the Prime Minister which includes members of the Armed Forces.
However, the DCC does not have a body to implement the decisions it makes.
Such a body is necessary to give a backbone to the decisions taken in the
DCC. Moreover, a mechanism can be found within the DCC in the event of a
divergence in perception to resolve matters without creating the conditions
for extra constitutional intervention.
There will be no constitutional provision or role for the DCC which will be
a Committee of the Cabinet.
THE JUDICIARY
An independent Judiciary is essential to the smooth functioning of a
democratic order to the rule of law and in the defence of the rights of the
citizen.
At the same time a representative judiciary is essential to give all parts
of the federation a sense of identification.
The system of appointments to the higher judiciary will be reviewed.
The Chief Justices of Pakistan will be appointed by the President on the
advise of the Prime Minister.
Supreme Court will be mandated to form benches in the Provinces to make
justice easily available to the people.
Similarly Provinces will make benches in all Divisions to ensure easy access
of justice.
The law of contempt, especially Article 68, will be amended to enable
Parliament to discuss judicial conduct of judges. Once a judgment is
delivered, it will become public properly and can be dismissed to ensure
transparency. Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.
3. PUBLIC - PRIVATE - PARTNERSHIP
Our Party initiated the concept of public enterprises. However, our
commitment to promote private sector activity goes beyond the policy of
privatization of public enterprises.
We are introducing a new revolutionary concept of business enterprise of
Public – Private partnership to give a genuine boost to the private sector,
particularly the small businessman. Under this policy if any private sector
enterprise which intends to start an economically viable projects the
government will join hands in the venture by contributing matching funds to
the amount invested by the private entrepreneur. This concept will be
equally applicable to those projects which are already in operation and are
poised for expansion and require additional funding.
The basic aim of our economic policy will be to raise economic growth to at
least 7olo with the benefit of growth shared by all the regions and people.
Growth will be achieved by providing appropriate support to the private
sector, as the role of the government is reduced and redefined.
We envisage the new role of the government as the provider of "social goods"
like defence and human resource development. We do not believe in a large
and expanding government that is involved in production or provision of
services that can be rendered more efficiently by the private sector.
The Public - Private - Partnership will boost investment in the country at
massive scale.
Thousands of people who could not previously get the opportunity to start
new business concerns or expand existing enterprises will get opportunity to
own and operate projects in joint venture with the state. This Public -
Private - Partnership will lead to investments in infrastructure projects,
housing and Land Development. Under this scheme the private sector will have
the option to buy back the government shares and thus completely own the
business enterprise.
The target of economic growth and c
urtailing inflation and budget deficits are ambitious. Our goals cannot be
achieved overnight. However, our Party firmly believes that sweeping reforms
as envisaged in this manifesto and through this concept of Public - Private
- Partnership would create synergy in which the industrious and hardworking
people of Pakistan can freely operate to fulfill their dreams. Pakistan
Peoples Party is confident that it can provide dynamic and enlightened
leadership to unite Pakistan to launch a battle against poverty disease,
illiteracy and corruption which has eroded our social fabric.
CHAPTER II - ECONOMIC SECTOR
1. ECONOMIC POLICY
As we approach the 2lst century, we have to reassess the country's needs in
rapidly changing environment. On the domestic front, years of neglect of our
economic problems, crowned by gross mismanagement, front, unprecedented
corruption and the plunder of national resources created an untenable
economic situation. Not only has the effect of a weak economy surfaced in
ethnic and social strife across the country, but it is also threatening the
availability of resources for the external defence of our country. The
administrative and institutional setup of our Country, designed for a period
of the past and dictatorial and exploitative regime, has become a financial
drain and an impediment to the free and efficient functioning of our
country. While our country has been in disarray the world around us has
witnessed political and economic changes of global proportions. The
challenges and opportunities that these events present to Pakistan, make it
imperative that we take bold, decisive and if need be difficult decisions to
place our country on the path to progress and prosperity.
It will be a prime objective of our Government to enlarge economic freedom
within a stable and fiscally responsible framework, integrated with a new
social contract with of authority to popular institutions at local levels
and an awakened sense of social responsibility
DE REGULATION
In their last term in office the PPP government had begun the process of
economic deregulation. We have full faith in this strategy and will pursue
it in future also. The Liberalization of the foreign exchange regime and the
dismantling of investment control was initiated by the PPP government. PPP
has no intention of reversing this strategy and will consider measures by
which trade and foreign exchange can be further freed, without jeopardizing
macro economic stability.
BIGGER ROLE FOR PRIVATE SECTOR
The encouragement of private enterprise will remain an important feature of
our economic strategy. It is essential that greater entrepreneurial freedom
be available to all persons, and not large industrialists only and that it
should be exercised in a socially responsible manner, particularly in
respect of tax payments and observance and observance of rights of labour. A
modern society cannot be built if the rule of law is not enforced.
Enterprise can flourish only in a competitive and fair environment which
does not permit monopolies, concentration of wealth and economic power.
The emphasis will be on inducting private entrepreneurs into areas
previously reserved for the public sector. It will be a dynamic policy aimed
at development of new productive assets and not merely the transfer of
ownership, from the state to private hands. The sate of public sector assets
will be in accordance with a plan which has clear cut economic and social
objectives. An important objective would be to secure a more broad-based
ownership of industrial assets so that people can fully participate and
benefit from the process of industrialization. The plan will be implemented
in a transparent manner, free of cronyism and under hand dealings, through
the Stock Exchange and Banks.
BALANCED GROWTH
Previous government had pursued a reckless fiscal policy involving high
budgetary deficits, which triggered two-digit inflation and put at risk the
prospects of growth and stability. 'The fiscal extravagance earned cheap
popularity but clearly was not sustainable and was imperiling the solvency
of the country. It would be the policy of a PPP Government to bring down the
budget deficit to sustainable levels both by economies in expenditure as
well as increase in resources. Financial discipline which has been badly
eroded will be restored. Inflation would be brought down to tolerable
levels. The goal of fiscal management would be the economic stability of the
country and low inflation and interest rates which are the essential
foundation for sustained economic growth.
TAX REFORMS
Tax reform should form a component of broader fiscal reform targeted at
stabilization and adjustment process as well defence and development needs.
We will review the tax imposed by the caretaker government on agricultural
incomes. It is well known that agriculture is denied the benefit of
international prices for agricultural products which is a form of income
transfer and tax. The review will ensure a fair return to the farmer,
increased output and reasonable prices.
Pakistan needs to achieve a sustained growth of over 7% in GNP in order to
lift significantly the standard of living of its people. Raising per capita
income must therefore be paramount goal of Pakistan's economic policy; and,
by the same token, it must be given central emphasis in the formulation of
tax reform.
In the short term, economic growth may be achieved by optimum use of
existing capacity. In the long run, growth requires increases in
productivity, which in turn, require, capital formation, whether in plant
and equipment in the creation of infrastructure such as roads, or in human
investment such as education and health. Capital formation may take place in
the private or the public sector, but saving is required to finance it in
either case. The needed rate of capital formation and hence of saving,
depends upon the target rate of income growth. With an average population
growth of nearly 3olo a year, rates of growth of GNP, in real terms of 7alo
corresponds to a rate of growth of per capita income of about 4olo. Such an
increase in the growth rate would represent a substantial improvement in the
performance of Pakistan's economy. A rate of growth of 7% cannot be achieved
without a rate of net investment of well over 20%. This huge rate of
investment will have to be matched by an increase in the rate of private and
public savings which in turn require tax reforms. The tax base is narrow in
Pakistan. Government has to rely on relatively high tax rates. The higher
the rate, the greater the distortion in private economic activity and the
greater the inefficiency of taxation.
Official estimates put tax evasion at Rs. 100 Billion which is sufficient to
plug the Budget Deficit. Thus all tax reform can be frustrated by the
inadequacy of the data and information base, by administrative weaknesses,
by insufficient political will, and interference with the tax
administration. Tax compliance will have to be enforced through research,
registration and improved collection procedures. Simplification of complex
tax laws and procedures to eliminate exclusions, preferences and special
interest will be initiated. Emphasis will be on better collection instead of
new taxes.
We will expand the system of collection of tax at source as final discharge
of tax liability to as many other assesses as possible individuals and
partnership firms engaged in the following businesses or professions will be
included in this scheme.
1. Law
2. Architecture
3. Auditing
4. Medical
5. Consultancy
6. Brokerage and Commission
7. Indenting
8. Transport
A simple tax of 5% on the gross receipts of such businesses as final
discharge of tax liability will not only save a large segment of the
population from the harassment at the hands of the assessing officials but
shall also result in an increase in tax revenues. This is in keeping with
the principle of lower rates and wider base which will lead to an overall
increase in Revenues.
MACRO- ECONOMIC POLICIES
The current economic situation in Pakistan is grave. Economic growth has
slowed down drastically with stagnation and decline in agriculture,
inflation has accelerated, exports have been declining while the official
foreign exchange reserves have dropped to their worst level ever
jeopardizing the country's commitments on its international financial
obligations. This has been the result of years of economic mismanagement
reflected in growing budgetary deficits, sapid monetary expansion and
neglect of infrastructural development. While a host of Asian countries
which were at a comparable level of economic development as Pakistan 10- 20
years ago, are now at the threshold of joining the proud ranks of newly
industrialized countries, Pakistan is still struggling to survive to meet
its basic obligations.
The road to development is a long and hard one, but it has been made more
difficult for Pakistan by the incompetent, corrupt and wasteful policies of
the past. To turn the economy around, short-term stabilization measures
would be needed. The exchange rate would need to be protected by tight
financial policies. We pledge to the nation that through disciplined
financial policies and appropriate stimulus to the private sector, the
economy will be put on track again.
PRIVATIZATION
2. Privatization must be for social and economic ends. Firstly privatization
must pursue the social aim of broadening the base of public ownership
through the sale of shares in small lots leading to a broad amount of
beneficiaries of the system.
Simultaneously by selling to large numbers, privatization soaks up surplus
funds thus serving an economic purpose of forming additional Capital. Nor
does it dry up existing liquidity for new projects.
Thirdly Privatization must safeguard the rights of the workers of the units
concerned.
3. DEVELOPMENT OF WATER AND POWER/ENERGY SECTOR
We as a nation have failed to implement a comprehensive energy policy. The
result is that Pakistan’s energy scene presents a nightmare. There is acute
shortage of power, the electricity and gas tariffs have registered
unprecedented rise in recent years yet our utilities are unable to generate
self-financing for their expansion plans. Demand is growing at a runaway
rate in non-productive sector, while the productive sectors are stagnating,
the fuel import bill is mounting at a rate that it would exceed our total
export earnings. Infrastructure to transport fuel products is inadequate and
is on the verge of breakdown. Refinery capacity is insufficient to meet the
demand.
ENERGY POLICY OBJECTIVES
Our energy policy should be aimed to achieve the following objectives :-
(1) Eliminate load-shedding and assure adequate supply of electricity for
industry, agriculture, commerce and private use.
(2) Permit socially equitable access to energy services and supplies.
(3) Strengthen institutional, management and manpower base of the energy
sector.
(4) Minimize energy sector's burden on public sector budget by encouraging
private sector investment in the energy sector.
(5) Improve overall energy conservation.
ENERGY POLICY CRITERIA
As there are no shortcuts to overcome the energy crisis and keeping in view
the increase in continued demand and the long lead time required to
identify, design and implement major energy projects, PPP will assign top
priority to Energy Sector.
In the development of power sub-sector, preference will be given to projects
based on indigenous fuel resources hydel / coal.
A comprehensive Long Term Energy Plan has been developed which cannot be
explained in' detail in the Party Manifesto. However, it is an integrated
program which identifies all the present issues and constraints in the
energy sector and then lists various policy options which will be all
simultaneously implement to overcome the energy crisis. The plan covers
following key areas :-
Removing constraints in the energy sector.
Demand and Load Management.
Restructuring the Power Distribution System to reduce high losses.
Optimizing Generating Regime.
Rapid development of hydro, coal and petroleum resources.
Increasing the Refinery Capacity.
Developing the energy infrastructure.
Training manpower for power sector
Indigenous manufacturing of energy sector equipment.
Energy Conservation.
4. AGRICULTURE POLICY AND REFORMS
Agriculture which is the mainstay of our economy was grossly neglected
specially during the ears of IJI government. There was no consistent policy
in respect of agricultural pricing and fertilizer and insecticide supplies.
Our agriculture policy will aim at a minimum annual growth of not less than
7o/a. Another major objective of PPP's policy will be to make agriculture as
profitable a profession as industry. We also aim at achieving gross autarky
in food within 5 years.
To achieve these targets, the PPP government will take the following
measures :
(1) A long-term mechanism will be developed to determine agriculture
commodities prices which give full value to the farmer to enable him not to
improve his standard of living but also to invest savings in the development
of the rural economy. Agricultural commodities pricing will take into
account costs of marketing and distribution inputs, outputs as well as costs
of transportation, communication, lands, labour and credits.
(2) A master plan will be prepared for each province to bring additional
lands under cultivation, to reclaim waste lands, to arrest water logging and
salinity, to help conservation of soil water supplies. Location of new agro
based industries such as sugar, cotton ginning, oil extraction, fruit juices
will be determined on the basis of suitable cropping zones.
(3) LBOD, RBOD and other projects which will help to control water logging
and salinity will be completed on priority basis.
(4) Increased allocations will be made for water management, water resources
development and water conservation
(5) Rural infrastructure and marketing will be improved. It will be ensured
that each village is connected by pucca roads and is provided electricity
and telephone. Work on farm to market roads will be stepped up.
(6) To further boost agricultural development, liberal credit facilities
will be made available for setting up small and medium scale agro based
industries in rural areas. It is proposed to set up kissan banks for
facilitating such credits.
(7) All cultivable state lands, which have not been reserved for public
purposes, shall be distributed with full ownership rights among local
peasants. Ownership rights will also be given to the tillers of the soil who
presently hold land as benamdars. Lands under illegal and unauthorized
possession will be withdrawn and distributed among local landless peasants.
There will be no ceiling for land holdings for cooperatives and public
limited companies set up for development of agriculture
(8) Fragmentation of land holdings will be controlled through increased role
of cooperatives and corporate companies.
(9) Research and development for improvement of seeds, pest control, use of
fertilizers, insecticides, soil analysis and improvement in water management
will be given higher allocations. NGOs arid private sector will be
encouraged to promote research and development.
(10) Supply of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides will be
ensured in sufficient quantities, at required times and to appropriate
prices. Laws will be made to effectively check adulteration in these inputs.
(11) Livestock and fisheries development will be given special attention and
liberal credit facilities will be extended for the development of these
sectors.
(12) Crop insurance will be introduced.
(13) Smuggling of wheat, ghee and livestock from Pakistan will be stopped
both by administrative measures and by price mechanism.
(14) Credits will be liberally provided for development of storage,
transport and processing facilities for fruit and vegetables.
(15) Greater allocation of resources will be made for agriculture and
irrigation sectors in the annual development programmes, keeping in view
that agriculture contributes about 25% to GNP of the country.
(16) Farmers suffer from delayed recoveries of payments for their products.
Steps will be taken to evolve mechanism ensuring timely payments to farmers
by the buyers of their products.
(17) Title deeds will be legalized for agriculture lands so that the farmer
does not remain at the mercy of the revenue officials. He should be able to
use title deed as collateral and for obtaining credits and other benefits.
This will also simplify transfers of land.
(18) Present policy measures to tax agriculture exports and to protect
agricultural imports will be reviewed to remove any disadvantages to
agriculturists.
5. RURAL DEVELOPMENT
PPP stands for equitable distribution of state's resources not only between
all classes of the people but also between the urban and rural population.
Therefore, closing of URBAN AND RURAL DIVIDE is of utmost importance for
national integration and for raising the quality of life of all citizens.
Our rural development policy will accordingly be based on the following
objectives:-
(1) To substantially increase resource allocations for rural development.
(2) To provide rural areas, the same facilities as are available in the
urban areas specially in the fields of education, basic health, roads,
electricity, potable water, sewerage and communications.
(3) To make available credits for small scale and agro based industries, for
improvement of agriculture, improved water management, and for
mechanization. Credit for purchase of equipment, machines, improved seeds,
will be liberalized and dispensation will be localized by setting up kissan
banks. Guidance will also be provided through banks, small industries,
organizations and cooperatives for setting up appropriate small scale and
agro based industries.
(4) To encourage cooperatives to form the nucleus of rural growth, through,
which bank credits, farming inputs, machines, implements and new farming
technologies will be increasingly channeled and modern marketing methods
introduced.
(5) To organize a literacy corps with its roots in rural areas to impart
literacy to adults including women.
(6) To transfer all houses occupied by the landless, artisans, labourers in
the "Abadi deh" to them on ownership basis.
(7) To establish rural courts consisting of elected union council members to
adjudicate civil, criminal and revenue cases.
(8) To create local dehi police force, controlled and appointed by the union
councils to assist the rural courts.
(9) To decentralize management of government schools and hospitals in the
rural areas by involving union councils or other representatives.
(10) To encourage, promote and support sports and cultural activities
including holding of melas, exhibitions through union councils, local
schools and cooperative societies.
(11) To decentralize and transfer functions and resources to local bodies
for all local development works.
6. INDUSTRIAL POLICY
PPP is fully aware that the country requires rapid industrial growth both in
quantitative and qualitative terms. The industrial development must be
spread to all regions of the country and all classes of people.
The PPP aims to introduce policies to bring about marked improvement in the
industrial and investment climate of the country. Our industrial policy will
ensure rapid growth of industrialization both in urban and rural areas.
Our industrial policy will be based on the following principles :-
1) Full safeguards will be provided to protect lawful investment of foreign
and local capital.
2) There will be no restriction on private investment in any sector except
in some defence oriented and sensitive areas.
(3) Government's role in management of industry will be gradually shifted to
regulatory role to encourage private investment. Public sector investments
will continue in sensitive industries and in industries where private
capital is shy or profits are low, such as defence, hydro power projects,
communications, steel, infrastructural development. We will continue with
our policy of mixed economy, called public-private partnership.
(4) Accelerated and balanced industrial development in all regions,
especially in the backward and rural areas will be our major policy concern.
(5) Emphasis on setting up industries in traditional sectors such as
textiles, sugar, will be shitted to heavy engineering, value added and
hi-tech industries. However, textile being Pakistan's largest industrial
sector, the existing textile policy will be reviewed to provide a boost to
textile exports.
(6) Bank interest rates will be reviewed to encourage investments.
(7) Collateral requirements for providing credits to professionals and small
investors for setting up industries, improvements in technologies,
development of construction industry will be relaxed and use of insurance
guarantees for construction industry will be encouraged.
(8) Setting up of small factories and workshops by engineers, artisans,
craftsmen, and skilled workers will be encouraged and availability of credit
for them will be facilitated by setting up separate banks for
entrepreneurial development and for artisans.
(9) System of providing small credit facilities at the lowest strata of the
society to generate incomes without collateral on the pattern of Grameen
Bank of Bangladesh will be introduced. This will help small traders,
labourers, farmers, rehriwalas and the like to better their lot.
(10) Multinational joint ventures will be encouraged to improve foreign
investments.
(11) Establishment of export oriented industries will be given preference.
(12), Research and development in private sector industries will be made
compulsory to acquire modern technology and to improve quality of products.
(13) A special corporation will be created to organize reinvestment in sick
and bankrupt industries of large size.
(14) Effective steps will be taken to stop smuggling to protect local
industries.
(15) Efforts to bring international and multinational investments through
international investment funds transnational investment institutions and
individuals for setting up new industries, participation in existing
industries and investments in stock exchanges will be maximized by providing
the required guarantees, security, improvements in law and order,
telecommunications, infrastructure, power supply and other related
facilities.
(16) To encourage spread of industries away from major towns emphasis will
be laid on accelerated development of infrastructural facilities,
electricity and communication at new centres.
(17) Our emphasis will be on expanding competition and creating new
opportunities for the private sector by encouraging government to phase out
controls over prices and investment decisions, reduce subsidies, and other
special incentives which prevent competition from spurring efficiency and
innovation. Trade and incentives policy reforms will be introduced to
promote exports, foster increased competition and encourage domestic and
foreign private investment.
7. ELIMINATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT
Unemployment especially amongst educated and uneducated youth has risen to
unprecedented heights during the three years of IJI rule. It will be a major
concern of PPP to bring unemployment to the absolute minimum level. We
believe that State has to continue to play a vital role in creating
employment opportunities through development programmes, accelerated
economic and industrial growth, self-employment schemes and through
increased investments in industry and agriculture. Our programme for removal
of unemployment is based on following measures :-
(1) Rapid growth in industry and agriculture and greater spread of small and
medium scale industries especially in the rural areas.
(2) Increased role of local bodies in development of local infrastructure
and rural industry.
{3) Introduction of insurance through Zakat fund.
{4) Spread of professional and vocational training to meet the growing needs
ot trained technical personnel in industry and agriculture through private
and public sectors.
(5) Role of NGOs and local groups will be encouraged and strengthened to
broaden incomes and employment base.
(6) It is estimated that socio-economic reforms introduced by PPP, through
increased allocations for development projects, education, health and other
social sectors will result in creation of over 506,000 jobs in public and
private sectors every year.
8. LABOUR POLICY AND REFORMS
The PPP believes that the government has a major role to play in protecting
the rights and
interests of working classes against exploitation and oppression. PPP
government will implement following programme to improve the economic lot of
workers and to provide them maximum social and job security.
(1 ) Draft labour policy prepared by the labour Ministry during PPP
government in 1988-90 will be updated and implemented.
(2) All labour laws will be reviewed to safeguard rights of both employees
and employers to ensure harmonious relations between the two.
(3) Healthy and democratic trade unionism will be encouraged. Trade unions
will be strengthened by enforcing internationally accepted norms of
relationship between the state, employer and the employee.
However, professional and exploitative trade unionism will be discouraged.
(4) Wages will be revised every year in July to compensate for inflation and
price hike. Present minimum wage standards will be reviewed to bring these
in conformity with actual realities and requirements.
(5) Schemes will be prepared for workers to invest their provident funds,
gratuity entitlements in the shares of the company they are working in.
Proportional representation in management according to their holdings will
be encouraged.
(6) Contract labour, bonded labour and child labour will be abolished.
(7) Private sector will be given incentives to provide housing and schools
for the employees.
(8) Rights recommended for labour under ILO charters will be safeguarded.
9. ERADICATION OF POVERTY
About 25% people in Pakistan live below the poverty line. The poor suffer
from inadequate housing, poor health, unemployment, poor sanitation,
inadequate public transport and education and oppressive control of state
machinery. Eradication of poverty will be a major concern of the PPP
government. We believe that steps planned by the Party to be taken for rapid
industrial and agricultural growth, greater rural development, higher
allocations for development projects, more equitable resource allocations,
creation of banks for kissans, artisans, introduction of small loans to
common citizens, encouragement of women to participate in national
development programmes, creation of greater employment opportunities,
improvements in health and infrastructural facilities will go a long way to
help eradication of poverty from the country.
To alleviate the sufferings of the poor, PPP plans to take following steps
:-
(1 ) Health, sanitation and educational facilities will be provided to all
existing and newly developed abadies. Homes for senior citizens will be
established in urban centres.
(2) Small scale housing will be financed on easy terms. Development of basic
infrastructure such as streets, sewerage, drainage and garbage disposal
facilities will be encouraged on community basis.
(3) Procedures for issue of leases to dwellers of katchi abadies will be
simplified. New master plan wilt be developed and more land will be made
available in urban areas for construction of houses to accommodate maximum
number of the homeless poor.
(4) Technical and financial assistance will be provided to improve the
present slum areas along with community participation.
(5) Ward courts will be established to adjudicate specified civil and
criminal cases.
(6) Shelters similar to sarais will be provided for workers coming to cities
for job.
(7) System of public transport will be substantially improved in the private
and public sectors.
(8) Day care centres will be established for children to help the working
women.
(9) Artisans, technicians, poor traders, working women, farmers and
labourers will get opportunities to improve their businesses, workshops and
other income generating facilities through newly proposed banks and small
loans facilities. This will substantially improve their living conditions.
10.DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
(1) PPP will give priority to the development of basic infrastructure
instead of wasting money on high sounding projects.
(2) Indus highway connecting Peshawar with Karachi will be completed in 4
years. All villages will be connected with markets whether through farm to
market roads or under programmes of provincial governments or local bodies.
(3) A master plan for expansion and improvement of roads network based on
traffic requirements will be prepared. Conditions of inter city roads will
be substantially improved and all major cities will be connected with dual
carriage ways. Dual carriage way for G.T. Road, from Peshawar to Karachi
will be completed in the shortest possible time.
(4) Measures will be taken to improve and expand urban transport systems in
all big cities to provide cheap, clean and efficient urban transport
service.
(5) Roads networks in cities will be improved. Efforts, based on scientific
lines, will be made to improve flow of traffic in cities and on highways.
Traffic management will be improved to remove traffic congestion and to
reduce rate of accidents.
(6) River navigation has been neglected so far in Pakistan. An Inland
Navigation Authority will be created to develop inland water navigation
system using the navigation channels of the Indus as a means of
transportation of goods and passengers. A seaport at the mouth of the Indus
will also be developed to help sea- borne trade through the Inland water
navigation system.
(7) Expansion, development and improvement of the railway system in the
country will be undertaken. PPP pledges to provide a modern and efficient
railway system for passengers and for goods transportation. Head office of
the Railway Board will be shifted back to Lahore to improve efficiency and
to reduce cost.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
(8) PPP had started a modernization and expansion programme which will be
speeded up with a view to providing telecommunication links even to the
remotest areas of the country by the year 1997. There are serious complaints
about the inefficient working of the telecommunication network. The
efficiency of the system will be improved on priority basis International
telecommunication links will be expanded to connect all countries of the
world.
MERCHANT FLEET
(9) It is a matter of grave national concern that while other nations are
expanding their merchant fleets Pakistani fleet is shrinking. This situation
will be improved. Ports and shipping sector will be revitalized and new
capital and technology will be attracted to modernize and expand ports and
shipping. A separate division of ports and shipping will be set up in the
ministry of communications to accelerate work on expansion and improvement
of this vital sector.
11. ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A rising population, rampant poverty, unregulated and indiscriminate
economic activity have brought severe stresses on the country's natural
resources. Our forest cover, one of the lowest in the world, is being lost
at an alarming pace. Domestic, industrial, agricultural and chemical wastes
are discharged with impunity into public waters threatening water quality
and aquatic life. The health of our people is rendered increasingly
vulnerable particularly to water-borne diseases. Urban centres are choked
with the pollution from discharges of industries and motor vehicles.
Unusually high noise levels from loud speakers also contribute to urban
stresses. All this is prejudicially affecting the quality of life of our
present and future generations.
The Pakistan Peoples Party will give priority to protecting the environment,
continuing its policies and commitments initiated during its administration
during 1988-09. It was, for example, this administration that for the first
time in this country s history upgraded the environment division to a full
federal ministry of the environment.
Our policies will include the following national, regional and international
agenda:
(1 ) Effectively enforcing and implementing the national conservation
strategy :
(2) Strengthening the federal and provincial institutions dealing with
environment;
(3) Finalizing and enforcing air, water and noise quality standards;
(4) Providing fiscal incentives particularly for existing industries to
enable them to conform to the new environmental standards;
(5) Providing "green loans" through the Development Financial Institutions
to induce environmentally friendly practices;
(6) Encouraging the growth of NGOs to promote common cause of environmental
protection and sustain development;
(7) Eliminating import duties on timber and offering similar "need
substitution" alternatives to release pressure on forest resources;
(8) Compulsorily requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment, with public
participation, before the approval and implementation of major projects. .
(9) Including environmental education in the syllabi schools and colleges;
(10) To develop a coastal environmental management plan.
12.SPECIAL PROJECTS
FRONTIER ACTION PLAN
1. Construction of Lowari Tunnel
GOVERNMENT AT THE DOORSTEP
A REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT OF THE NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT
Government has collapsed. With it, law and order has collapsed. Thieves go
scot-free.
Corruption is rampant. The ordinary citizens make out a miserable life.
Injustice stalks them.
Given the collapse of the social order, the Pakistan Peoples Party has
introduced the New Social Contract to bring about a new balance of power and
to create a new system in which the rights of the masses are not trampled.
The aim of the new social contract is to redistribute power between the
Federation, Province and Local Bodies to make government more effective and
responsive to the needs of our citizens.
A new system which ends the monopoly of the Thanedar and the Feudal, of the
oppressor and the exploiter.
A system which protects the weak and oppressed.
The local bodies are presently cesspools of corruption.
Development money is embezzled.Goods are adulterated.
The citizen is frustrated.
No more - Not with Government at the Door step.
With the New Social Contract, local bodies will be restructured and reformed
Divisions will slowly be done away with direct government at the grass root
will begin.
We will introduce effective Local Government through District Legislatures.
The District Councilors will elect from amongst them a Leader of the House
who will be known as Governor (The Provincial Governor will become Governor
General).
The Governor will have a cabinet so that citizens make government
departments accountable through their elected representatives.
The Deputy Commissioner will be Secretary to the Government of the District,
just as the Chief Secretary is Secretary to the Province.
In the Cabinet there will be
1. A Minister of Law who will be responsible to see that all court cases are
aggressively pursued and justice expedited.
2. A Minister for Police Affairs who will be responsible for the District
Police affairs to ensure that the innocent are not locked up and that
thieves are not set free.
3. A Minister of Finance responsible for the Budget, expenditure,
accounting.
4. A Minister of Population Planning to oversee Mother and Child Clinics.
5. A Minister for Zakat to see zakat funds are not misused.
6. A Minister for Irrigation Affairs to see that Khetti is done properly and
canals cleared.
7. An Anti-Corruption Minister to investigate complaints of adulteration
etc.
8. A Minister of Health to ensure district hospitals are working properly.
9. A Minister of Education to ensure schools are functioning according to
rules.
10, A Minister of Ushr to supervise the collection of Ushr
A Task Force will be set up to see that while Districts are autonomous there
are remedies for any excesses that a Government or minister may commit.
The bureaucracy will be encouraged to be bold and give their views in
writing as per civil service rules.
If there is a difference of views between the civil servant and the
minister, the matter will go to the Governor.
A11 Councilors will have to file their assets as will all civil servants.
Those will be disqualified who have misused their power to write off loans
or not paid their utility bills.
REMOVAL OF ECONOMIC DISPARITY
We will promote :
(1 ) Agriculture land leveling, tube wells, electric connections, seeds,
establishment of Plant nurseries, farm to market roads.
(2) Small irrigation schemes to tap spring water.
(3) Rapid promotion of education, especially women education which has
lagged behind very badly in this Province.
8. IMPROVEMENT OF QUETTA AND ITS CIVIC AMENITIES
Provision of civic amenities has not kept pace with the heavily growing
population of Quetta and its suburbs.
With drastic measures and heavy financial aid we will retrieve Quetta City
to make it a befitting capital of Balochistan Province. In the recent past
many technical and feasibility reports have been prepared. We will act on
these reports by allocating needed ADP funds and implementing the required
projects.
CHAPTER III - SOCIAL SECTOR
1. EDUCATION
EDUCATION FOR ALL
Education is the most neglected sector in the Country. Socio-economic
development can only be brought about if the rate of literacy and standards
of education are raised. We plan to introduce a major reforms programme in
the education sector, which is based on the following :
(1) PPP's education policy and programme will aim at achieving 80% youth
literacy within 6-8 years. Adult literacy level will be raised to 50% in
about 6 years time. Access to basic education for the female population in
rural and urban slum areas will receive special priority.
(2) To achieve above stated targets, PPP is committed to a steady increase
in budgetary allocations for education. Expenditure on education was
increased by 68% in the budget for the year 1989-90. As a percentage of GNP
it rose to 2.1 in 1989-90. PPP aims to increase budgetary allocations for
education to a level of 4.5% of GNP to achieve national objectives in the
education sector.
(3) Facilities for education upto matriculation level will be made available
to the entire population of the country.
(4) Universities will be made administratively and financially autonomous.
Government will support centers of excellence in the universities, specially
in the science5 and agriculture.
(5) Allocations for scholarships, qarz-e-hasna and grants will be
substantially increased for deserving students.
(6) Role of private educational institutions and NGOs including higher and
professional education will be encouraged and promoted.
(7) A literacy corps will be established to implement crash literacy
programmes. Graduate degree holders will be compulsorily required to work
for this corps for at least one year.
(8) Training schools for technicians and craftsmen will be established at
each tehsil level.
(9) We aim at increasing the number of existing secondary level vocational
institutions and upgrading their facilities. We plan to establish al least
one polytechnic institute at each district head quarter of the country.
(10) Matching grants will be given to private individuals or institutions
seeking to establish primary or secondary schools at standardized costs and
to standardized designs.
(11 ) Educational institutions in the public and private sectors will be
asked to promote extra – curricular activities.
(12) Incentives will be provided to the business and industrial sectors to
establish primary schools, technical institutes, libraries and reading
centers.
(13) An education service cadre will be established with an enchanced salary
and grade structure so as to attract better talent into the cadres of
teachers and administrators.
(14) Educational administration will be decentralized from federal to
provincial and from provincial to district level. District education
officers will be elected and will be held accountable for ensuring the
proper functioning of schools in their area.
(15) Maximum exchanges with foreign universities will be encouraged so as to
provide our graduate and post- graduate students with access to information
and research from the developed and technologically advanced countries.
2. HEALTH
After education health is the most neglected Sector in Pakistan. Budgetary
allocation for health have been less than 1olo of GNP which is one of the
lowest in the world.
In January, 1990, the first ever health policy of Pakistan was announced by
the PPP government. This policy was a consensus document and had the
approval of all the Provinces of Pakistan. It was the result of four years
of in depth study and consultations with the entire spectrum of health
workers, planners, bilateral and multilateral agencies. Salient features of
this programme include :-
(1 ) Implementation of the health policy according to priorities already
developed in 1990.
(2) Substantially increasing allocations for health sector from the present
dismal 0.7o/a of GNP to 1.5% of GNP in four years;
(3) Re-organising primary health care service to make it community oriented
with community participation;
(4) Decentralizing authority by creating tehsil and district health boards;
(5) Giving greater autonomy to all government hospitals;
(6) Developing private managed health care insurance;
(7) Developing a quality assurance mechanism for hospitals;
(8) Introduction of rural social security programme;
(9) Strengthening, expansion and opening new nursing and para medical
schools in order to achieve the desired requirements by the year 2000;
(10) Introducing a rational drugs policy.
(11) Making family planning services available at all health centres
including basic and rural health units;
(12) Training and introduction of one hundred thousand health workers in
rural and urban areas;
(13) Reducing gender imbalance by removing age, sex, and qualification rules
for para medical staff;
(14) Clean drinking water to be treated as a fundamental right of all
citizens both in urban and rural areas.
(15) Service conditions of doctors, para-medical and other staff will be
improved.
(16) Measures against adulteration of food stuffs will be strengthened.
(17) Teaching of health care and environmental improvements to be made part
of curriculum for students.
(18) Restriction will be imposed on unnecessary medical treatment of
bureaucrats. politician5, judges in foreign countries.
3. POPULATION PLANNING:
Pakistan's population is increasing at the rate of 3olo per annum. At the
turn to the century the population of the country will exceed 170 million.
The population of Lahore and Karachi will exceed S.Q and 15.0 million
respectively PPP aims at bringing the annual population growth rate to below
2olo in 10 years. The need to implement a programme to achieve this target
is urgent and cannot brook any delay.
We will take the following steps to strengthen the population planning
programme.
(1 ) Increased political support for family planning programmes at all
levels;
(2) Effective use of mass and electronic media for reaching the target
population;
(3) Allocation of greater percentage of resources for family planning and
fuller utilization of funds for the programme;
(4) Direct participation of private sector ;
(5) Increased involvement of NGOs in the programme and more autonomy for
them;
(6) Decentralization of family planning programme.
(7) Utilization of basic health units in family planning programme;
(8) Strengthening the institutional, operational and managerial aspects of
the programme;
4. DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING
Main aim of the housing policy will be to provide reasonable shelter to each
family by the year 2000. The housing policy will be based on the following
principles :-
(1) New housing schemes in urban and rural areas will be properly planned,
supported with necessary infrastructural facilities and additional land.
(2) Allotment procedures for land will be simplified. Government supported
housing will not extend beyond one house in the country for each independent
adult.
(3) We will improve the relevant legislation to encourage housing finance
companies to provide mortgage for housing to lower and middle incomes
groups. Private banks and building societies, will be encouraged to provide
easy and accessible credits to low incomes groups for purchase of land,
construction of houses or outright purchases.
(4) Provision for workers housing will be made mandatory in large scale
industrial projects. Research projects will be initiated for development of
cheaper materials, designs and development of local construction
technologies suitable for each area.
(5) Provincial governments and local bodies will implement 5 marla schemes
for homeless families.
(6) Present limit imposed by House Building Finance Corporation will be
raised.
(7) Tenancy act will be reviewed and streamlined to make it more equitable
to owners and tenants to promote higher investments in the housing sector.
(8) Allotment of plots as part of patronage and political favours will be
stopped.
(9) Special emphasi5 will be given to environmental considerations and open
spaces in the new townships.
(10) Land development constraints will be removed to facilitate
transactions, registration of transfers and titles.
(11) We shall encourage development of low cost housing schemes. Each such
scheme will have about 25% to 50% small housing units of 100 to 150 sq.yards
each.
5. DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE AND ARTS
The Party undertakes to allow and promote cultural activities at community,
regional and the national levels. All restrictions imposed on sports for
women will be removed and they will be encouraged to fully participate in
sports activities. Appropriate stadia with all required facilities will be
built at each district head quarter and at other sizeable towns within a
period of 4 years.
Our programme for development of cultural, arts and sports activities will
aim at,
elimination of communal feelings and hatred
development of youth, both male and female
improvements in individual physique and health
promotion of national integration
promotion of local and regional cultures
promotion and improvement of sports activities both for male and female
population.
Promotion of arts will be encouraged. Undue restrictions imposed on
promotion of arts will be removed. Steps will be taken to preserve the
national heritage.
CHAPTER IV - PROMOTION OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
We realize that Pakistan cannot enter the 21st century without proper
development of science and technology. The PPP undertakes to give very high
priority to research and development and to the promotion of science and
technology. We will implement following programme in this sector :-
(1 ) Efforts will be made to provide financial resources upto 1% of GNP for
research and development as recommended by the United Nations.
(2) Status of scientists and technologist will be upgraded.
(3) Setting up of a science city will be given due consideration.
(4) State of affairs of various research institutes such as PCSIR, PITAC,
and universities will be reviewed in order to improve their working.
(5) New science and technology policy will be introduced to ensure transfer
and promotion of science and technology.
(6) An open policy for development and import of new technologies will be
followed.
(7) Programmes for development of solar energy will be given full financial,
professional and infrastructural support.
(8) Role of NGOs in development of science and technology will be supported.
·
CHAPTER V - NATIONAL DEFENCE
PPP gives utmost importance to development of highly trained,
professionalized, modern and well equipped armed forces required for
external and internal security of the country.
Although it will be our endeavour to bring about reduction in defence
expenditure through mutual armed reduction treaty with India, PPP will fully
support modernized armed services for effective defence against outside
aggression. Programme for indigenization of the development of armaments
through improvement of technology will be fully supported.
PPP is confident that due to its pragmatic and well respected foreign
policy, the party shall be in a relatively far better position to acquire
the required armaments and technology for development of armaments industry.
Technology improvements in defence production industry will enhance our
export capabilities.
We will not unilaterally sign the NPT unless there is a mutual agreement
with India. However, PPP reiterates its firm policy and pledge to the
international community that we shall use nuclear technology only for
peaceful purposes.
CHAPTER VI - FOREIGN AFFAIRS
When the PPP Government was dismissed on August 6,1990, Pakistan's prestige
stood high on the global level.
Today we are isolated and facing increasing threats.
Our relations with the United States are at a low ebb.
Pakistan's have been extradited from the Gulf.
We are accused of Terrorism. Europe, Japan and the United States have voiced
growing concern over our peaceful nuclear programme.
Indian rhetoric against our country is increasing.
The Nuclear Power Plant of France has not materialised.
A heroic effort is needed to solve complex issues, to regain Pakistan's
status in the world community, to defuse tensions with India without
compromising our just stand on occupied Kashmir.
WE INTEND TO :
(1) Work for a Mutual arms Reduction Treaty with India. In the New World
Order, the writing is clear and if India and Pakistan are to save themselves
from unilateral curbs forced upon them, it is in both their interests to
consider a Mutual Arms Reduction Treaty:
(2) Our friendship with China remains the corner stone of our Foreign
Policy;
(3) Relations with the emerging giant Japan need to be strengthened ;
(4) The growing tension in the Muslim World require us to help our friends,
without taking sides, and
should the need arise, assist as a peace-keeping force in coordination with
the United Nation.
(5) Base our relations with Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republic on
strong economic ties.
(6) Give special priority to Europe, in particular to France, Germany, the
United Kingdoms and Italy.
(7) Build our ties with Russia and seek to remove irritants by resolving
issues such as the Prisoner of War question.
KASHMIR
For Pakistan the self determination of Kashmir is a national issue that over
rides political differences. We are sure that all political parties and
groups will join us in reaffirming Pakistan's full moral and political
support to the Kashmir struggle. It is calumny to accuse the Kashmiri
freedom fighters of terrorism, The violence in Kashmir, as in Bosnia,
originates from the denial to the Kashmiri people of their legitimate rights
and of the use of the most brutal repression against them by security
forces. We call upon India to desist from a policy that is doomed to fail
and can only increase bitterness and hatred in Kashmir and in the
sub-continent as a whole.
The PPP affirms its support for a peaceful solution of the Kashmir issue in
accordance with the principles embodied in the U.N resolutions and in
negotiations agreed upon at Simla.
The two governments without interfering in each others internal affairs
should also reaffirm the responsibility for the safety, honour and welfare
of their respective minorities that they under-took a solemn pact.
RELATION WITH THE U.S.A.
Today Pakistan is threatened with isolation in the world community. This is
a dramatic reversal of the position that prevailed when democracy was
regained by the people in 1988. It is vital for the country’s welfare and
self respect that the situation should be redressed.
We must forge new post cold war relations with the United States based on
our common aims of peace and peaceful settlements, and arms control in South
Asia; against drug abuse and terrorism for economic growth.
PALESTINE AND BOSNIA
We shall do all in our power to protect and preserve the life, honour and
property of the People of Bosnia, Palestine and Kashmir.
We will continue to fight for the political rights of the people of
Palestine, Bosnia and others who are suppressed and oppressed. Our support
for the brave and long suffering people of Palestine and Bosnia will
continue unabated until their miseries end and they join the comity of
nations as free and independent States.
CHAPTER VII - ELIMINATION OF DRUGS
(1 ) Strict laws will be framed and implemented to eliminate drugs
production and trade. The PPP will not allow any person believed to be
guilty of drugs trade to be a Party Member. Full cooperation will be
extended to national and international drugs traffic control agencies to
eliminate this menace, and no person however influential will escape
punishment.
(2) Rehabilitation programmes for drug affected persons will be introduced
at al1 district head quarter hospitals:
(3j Effective campaigns will be launched on the electronic media against
production and use of drugs.
(4) Farmers in drugs growing areas will be guided and assisted to grow other
crops replacing drugs producing crops.
CHAPTER VIII - MEDIA POLICY
We firmly believe in a responsible, independent and free press and
electronic media. PPP's media policy will be based on the following major
principles;
(1 ) No effort will be made to control the press through newsprint or
advertisements.
(2) The representative bodies of the press such as CPNE, APNS, PFUJ and
other regional bodies will be encouraged to frame and implement their own
codes of conduct to discourage yellow journalism and to guard against
exploitation of the common citizen, government bodies and other institutions
by the media.
(3) Automonous corporations, under parliamentary control, shall be created
for management of electronic media.
(4) Group Insurance and Pension Schemes will be introduced for journalists.
(5) A judge of the Supreme Court will head the wage commission.
CHAPTER IX - RELIEF FOR GOVERNMENT SERVANTS,
RETIRED OFFICIALS AND JOURNALISTS
(1) The PPP will increase all pay and pension by 10% immediately upon being
elected.
(2) Credit facilities in easy installments will be made available to
journalists and retired government servants, civil and military for the
purchase of vehicles.
(3j Ten percent of flats/shops/plots will be reserved in any new housing
schemes Plazas for journalists, retired government servants, civil and
military.
CHAPTER X - TOURISM
Promotion and development of tourism will receive full support from PPP
government. Our programme for development of communications will help in the
promotion of tourist industry. Private sector will be given incentives to
create tourist facilities in the country and to sponsored programmes for
tourists. Although tourism has been declared an industry. It is not
receiving due support either from the public or from the private sector.
CHAPTER XI - COMMISSION ON HISTORY
For over four decades of Pakistan’s existence, the history of Pakistan has
suffered from suppression of truth and from distortion. Time has come to
write an authentic history of Pakistan. We will, therefore, appoint an
independent commission consisting of eminent historians, jurists, scholars
and writers to collect all material, written and oral and to write an
authentic history of Pakistan free from fear of suppression and free from
political and social considerations.
CHAPTER XII - HUMAN RIGHTS
(1) We believe all citizen have equal rights and obligations irrespective of
religion, caste, creed or sex. Any discriminatory laws infringing the rights
of the citizens will be repealed or suitably amended,
(2) Basic international human rights instruments, especially the Convenants
of 1966 and the protocols, and conventions relating to the rights of women,
children, minorities, and the indigenous people, and those covering torture
and inhuman punishments, will be ratified and enforced.
(3) Any loss of life at the hands of state authorities such as police
encounters will be subject to judicial review.
(4) Present laws for preventive detention will be limited to extreme case
only.
(5) Detenus will not be treated as criminals.
(6) Right of religious freedom of all individuals will be fully protected.
(7) Torture and human degradation in any form by state agencies will be
effectively banned.
(8) Present thana system where citizens are hauled up without justification
will be abolished to safeguards the honour and dignity of citizens. System
of the lodging FIRs will be simplified.
(9) Journalists, judges, human rights workers will have free access to
police lockup and jails to monitor the Jail conditions.
(10) Community participation in law enforcement will be introduced
(11) Efforts will be made to regional human rights court on the pattern of
the European court of justice so that, after exhausting judicial avenues in
their respective countries, citizens of any country may approach the
regional court.
(12) The right to freedom of expression will be effectively secured.
(13) No citizen shall be deprived of the right to freedom of expression,
movement, association, or assembly, except an judicially sustainable
restrictions.
(14) Citizens shall be protected against censorship, phone-tapping, and
surveillance by intelligence.
(15) Steps shall be taken to ensure that the objects mentioned in the
Principles of Policy are attained in the shortest possible time, and the
obligation to present an annual report to the National Assembly is honoured.
(16) The right to life shall be construed to include right to subsistence. A
special National Insurance Scheme will be introduced in partnership with
Private Sector to ensure the right of subsistence to the aged and disabled.
(17) The freedom of the Press will be ensured by respect and protection for
the economic and political needs of working journalists.
(18) Libel laws will be made more stringent to protect the reputation of the
ordinary citizen.
CHAPTER XIII - RIGHTS OF WOMEN
THE FUTURE PROGRAM
Starting from Um ul Momineen Hazrat Bibi Khadija the History of Islam is
glittering with examples of the struggles and sacrifices of women. It is the
path illuminated by these revered ladies of Islam that inspired the
leadership of the PPP and thousands of other women in Pakistan to lead and
participate in the most heroic struggle of the people of Pakistan against
dictatorship.
The party is committed to create conditions where the new consciousness of
our women finds a practical outlet in bettering their own condition and in
nation building We shall :
(1) Organize a female literacy corps with its roots in every village to
impart literacy and education to our children, specially to girls.
(2) The Rural support centers will concentrate on professions like garment
making and handicrafts in which women can specialize. Marketing support will
be provided and export of these items will be taken up directly.
(3) While replicating programs like OPP and AKRSP maximum effort will be
made to involve women in income generation and community development
programs.
(4) Taking guidance from the revolutionary spirit of the Quranic teachings
all laws and ordinances will be reviewed and new laws framed to eliminate
exploitation discrimination and oppression and to ensure the role of women
as equal members of our society.
(5) Anti Jahez campaigns will be patronized.
(6) Women will be given equal status in all walks of life.
{7) Quota of employment for women shall be reserved in all Government and
semi government organizations.
(8) Special seats for women in the National and Provincial Assemblies shall
be restored.
(9) A permanent commi5sion will be established on the status of women. The
terms of the commission will, among others include following as well ;
discrimination against women at constitutional, social and legal levels.
- portrayal of women in the media.
- violence against women.
(10) Pakistan will become a signatory to the UN convention on elimination of
all forms of discrimination against women.
(11 ) Family planning will be recognized as a basic human right and
information as well as service will be adequately provided to the
population.
(12) Hudood ordinance and other discriminatory laws against women will be
suitably amended.
(13) Minimum age for marriage will be raised.
14 Women s fundamental rights to life security freedom of movement, and
their full participation in all spheres of national life will be ensured as
declared in article 34 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
(15) A special Women's police force would be set up.
(16) Pakistan will pioneer an Islamic women's parliamentary group so that
Muslim women gain experience from each other.
(17) Distinguished women lawyers shall be appointed to the superior
judiciary.
(18) Each deserving widow shall receive a basic allowance through a
computerized register to enable her to support herself and her dependent
children.
(19) Family laws relating to marriage, alimony, child custody, family courts
will be made more equitable to ensure fair and equal rights for women.
Family laws will be simplified to facilitate quick and easy adjudication.
(20) Hostels for working women will be established in all big cities.
(21 ) Laws for adequate minimum wage, acceptable working hours, health and
maternity benefits to all working women in the: informal sector will be
enacted.
(22) Female headed households, will be given priority in allotment of land
for housing and credit.
(23) Credit will be provided on special condition to reach the women farmers
and rural women entrepreneurs at their doorstep by opening more branches of
the First Women Bank.
RECORD OF THE PPP
Ministry of Women Development right from the beginning was seized with
preparation of a long term plan, and in June 1990 a portfolio of 20 Special
projects for the upliftment of women for the next three years of the 7th
Five Year plan was approved involving an investment of about
Rs.450 crores as against an investment of only Rs.71 crores during the past
ten years:
These projects included
