PPP unveils election manifesto promising to 'save and develop Pakistan'
By
Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Thursday became the first political party to make public its manifesto ahead of the July 25 general elections with the call to “come out and vote for us if you agree with us”.
Moving forward with its traditional slogan, ‘Roti, Kapra and Makan’, the PPP pledged food security, guaranteed access to quality healthcare services, secure housing in sustainable and inclusive communities and social protection against all forms of external shocks.
“This election manifesto marks the practical beginning of my political life and I would like to present the solution to the grave issues facing the country at the moment,” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said while addressing the media at the National Press Club.
Bilawal claimed that his party will not accept any form of controlled democracy.
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The young chairman also pledged that he will fulfil the promise made by his mother, late Benazir Bhutto, to the people of Pakistan that of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan for all.
“Everywhere in today’s Pakistan is a pile-up of issues and we will present solutions to resolve all these problems,” the PPP chief said, adding, “Our manifesto is bibi ka vaada nibhana hai, Pakistan bachana hai (Honouring Benazir Bhutto’s promise to safe Pakistan)”.
Bilawal said his party will continue to struggle to carve out a province in southern Punjab.
Today, he added, Pakistan is under debt and is being isolated on the diplomatic front. “The country is facing isolation and is not listened to in the international fora despite rendering sacrifices in men and material. We will include Fata in the national mainstream as soon as possible.”
“The PPP has focused on resolving the issues relating to education and health and other basic necessities. We will also focus on resolving two major issues perturbing the youth — unemployment and opportunities,” Bilawal maintained.
“Measures will have to be taken to give a boost to industrial progress and development,” he said and stressed that his party will evolve a zero tax policy for the textile sector.
“We will introduce measures to increase synergy between national institutions,” the PPP chairman said and added, “The rulers need to ensure that there is no exploitation of the weak and the marginalised.”
According to him, ineffectiveness to resolve the water scarcity issue is an injustice to the future generation.
“We will not compromise on national integrity,” Bilawal said and added, “Our manifesto will make the rulers answerable to the masses.”
The PPP manifesto highlights the issue of the current economic situation, termed it unstable, intolerable, unsustainable and exclusionary.
It announced ‘Bhook Mitaao Programme’ (Hunger Reduction Programme).
“The cost of doing business in Pakistan is one of the highest in the region as the cost of energy is extremely high. The PPP’s manifesto also highlights how we need to reconsider our industrial growth by coming up with a new policy.”
The PPP chairman said: “The PPP’s government delivered Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in order to alleviate poverty. The BISP received international accolades, which is why it continues to date despite the change of governments. Along the lines of BISP, the PPP will introduce Benazir Kissan Card.”.
Bilawal said that it is criminal how our agricultural sector is absolutely being ignored. “Small farmers, who make up for about 95% of our agricultural sector, are being exploited.
“Benazir Kissan Card will ensure the rights of small farmers by introducing an insurance policy for their crops, subsidising electricity, fertiliser and pesticide; increasing the number of crops that are given support price by the government; and giving farmers rights equivalent to that of the industrial workers’ rights.”
“We will give rights to women workforce that make a large part of our agricultural sector in the rural areas. No other party has empowered women more than the PPP. We will continue to do so as we believe in equal rights for all,” added Bilawal.
The PPP chairman termed the PML-N’s foreign policy a disaster for the country.
“From Salala to OBL to Mumbai attack, the PPP faced immense foreign policy challenges during its tenure, yet we managed to resolve them because the PPP believes in the strength of parliament.
“We discussed and decided all foreign policy issues in parliament, as that is how civilised democracies function.”
He criticised the PML-N for not appointing a foreign minister for four years and taking important decisions in the PM House. “We will bring foreign policy back to parliament.”
Raising the slogan of “Band Karo Yeh Ihtehsaal” (stop this exploitation), the PPP chairman vowed he will give voice to the voiceless.
“The PPP’s main concern is human rights. We are going to criminalise enforced disappearances. We will also criminalise torture and ensure that Pakistan as a state honours international treaties and covenants,” he added.
