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Foreword
In Pakistan's chequered history no elected government has been allowed
to complete its term of office. Frequent military interventions
have done colossal damage to the integrity and solidarity of the
country. As a consequence, Pakistan has failed to achieve political
stability, sustained economic growth and a clear sense of national
solidarity. The 1973 constitution, which has the consensus of all
the federating units, has been amended by the autocratic rulers
beyond recognition. What we see today is continuing military rule,
with a façade of democracy.
The three main pillars of a sustainable democratic order are: a
sovereign parliament, an independent judiciary and a free and fair
electoral process. All the three institutions have been greatly
weakened in the past 8 years:
- The Parliament had been denied its due role in policy making and
virtually reduced to a rubber stamping body. It could not even discharge
its constitutional responsibility of electing a Prime Minister.
- The unconstitutional removal of the Chief Justice of Pakistan
in March 2007, and the forced retirement of 55 additional Judges
of the Supreme Court and the High Courts after 3 November 2007,
dramatically exposed the game plan of Military rulers to have a
pliable judiciary that will sanctify the continuation of Musharraf's
rule under a civilian façade.
- The manner in which the general elections of 2002 and local body's
polls of 2005 were manipulated and rigged has virtually destroyed
the credibility of the electoral process in Pakistan.
In these 8 years, Military has taken control of almost all the vital
economic sectors of the country and most important positions are
now occupied by retired or serving army officers. The process of
accountability has been focused on politicians, businessmen and
bureaucrats. Army has been deliberately kept out of its purview.
In fact the National Accountability Bureau has been blatantly used
as a political tool to coerce turn-coat politicians into playing
second fiddle to military ascendancy in matters which are purely
civilian in a democratic country. Curbs on democratic freedom and
the media remain draconian. To justify the military take over and
forestall the emergence of strong political alternatives, the military
regime has been vigorously pursuing a systematic campaign to malign
politics and politicians and divide and pressurize all the mainstream
opposition parties.
The military government has totally failed to achieve any of the
objectives announced as its seven (7) point's agenda in October
1999. There has been a sharp increase in prices, unemployment and
poverty. Governance and law and order are at their worst in Pakistan's
history. Car thefts, burglaries, bank robberies, political and sectarian
violence have increased by the day ever since the military government
has taken control of the country. The centre - province relationships
have been deteriorating especially on the issue of water and distribution
of financial resources under NFC. Baluchistan has reached a point
where an armed confrontation is taking place between the Federation
and the local leadership. Because of the mishandling by the present
government and the brute use of force, there is great disillusion
in the NWFP and the Tribal areas.
The present government has explicitly recognized that the income
disparities in the country have increased during the last few years
which are sad news for the people of the country. Although the consumption
inequality has increased both in urban and rural areas, the inequalities
in urban area have grown at a higher rate. Sectors like rural development,
rural electrification and low cost housing performed dismally and
have shown declining trends. The inequality reflects distortions
in the availability and quality of health, education and infrastructure
services. These are alarming trends. The poor in the country are
getting poorer while the rich are getting richer. The reversal of
this trend is only possible through a change in approach in policy
formulation and implementation and by making the reduction of the
rich-poor divide as integral part of a new policy thrust.
In these 8 years the government was a one-man show and the President-cum-Chief
of Army Staff wanted to perpetuate his hold on power but was forced
by the political opposition and a civil society movement led by
the lawyers to shed his uniform. In the aftermath of 9/11, the only
superpower patronized this set-up because it was fighting America's
proxy war on more than one front. The backlash of this plan is now
mounting in the form of terrorist activities and bomb blasts in
different parts of Pakistan.
People in Pakistan are losing faith in the manifestos of most political
parties because they are disillusioned by the actual implementation
of such Manifestos. But by God's grace, PML(N) was able to implement
its Manifestos to a substantial degree during its two terms from
November 1990 to July 1993 and from February 1997 to September 1999,
despite many internal and external difficulties. If PML(N) governments
had been allowed to complete its 5 years tenures, the country would
not be in such dire straits as it is today.
It is in this scenario that PML(N) would like to unfold various
facets of its manifesto keeping in view the Charter of Democracy.
Top of the agenda will be a coherent strategy to restore the Judges
who refused to take oath under the P.C.O. promulgated on 3 November
2007. This will also ensure a sustainable democratic order free
of military interference. It is equally necessary to ensure a free
media as the fourth pillar of a democratic system, after a sovereign
legislature, an independent judiciary and a law abiding executive.
The lawyer's movement that started in March 2007, to uphold the
rule of law has been transformed by the powerful media and other
segments of the civil society, into an historic battle for fundamental
rights and genuine democracy. The forthcoming elections provide
a golden opportunity to win this battle by voting for parties striving
for democracy and the noble objectives listed above and rejecting
those that only provide a civilian façade to military rule.
Mohammad
Nawaz Sharif
Quaid PML(N)
14 December 2007
2. Revival
of Genuine Democracy
Pakistan came into existence through a democratic struggle. Pakistan
can survive as a unified and strong federation only through a viable
and sustained democratic process. PML(N) is fully committed to democracy.
It will:
- strengthen all democratic institutions, and traditions in all
spheres of national life and improve the economic condition of the
common man.
- re-establish the supremacy of Parliament and its Committees to
perform the role assigned to it under the constitution;
- promote unity among the federating units through maximum provincial
autonomy and decentralization of administrative and financial powers
to provincial and lower levels;
- fully recognize the rights and privileges of the opposition and
the importance of internal party democracy and free speech;
- ensure that the armed forces perform only such functions as are
assigned to them under the constitution;
- guarantee, subject to law and public morality, all the fundamental
rights including equality of status and opportunity, freedom of
thought, expression, belief, faith, worship and association and
equality before law;
- ensure that elections at all levels under a neutral caretaker
government are free and fair and the sanctity of the vote is fully
respected. All election cells in intelligence and military establishments
will be closed.
- PML(N) will appoint the Chief Election Commissioner in consultation
with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. While
the Chief Election Commissioner will be a retired Chief Justice
or judge of Supreme Court or High Court, its members will be appointed
from among retired judges of the supreme Court or High Courts, distinguished
retired civil servant with impeccable service record, or eminent
jurists of national stature. The number of members will be increased
to five so that the election petitions are decided within a reasonable
period of time.
- Hold elections for the national and provincial assemblies on the
same day.
3. Independent
Judiciary and the Rule of Law
The judicial crisis that erupted on 9 March 2007, with the removal
of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, was an historic turning point
in the political life of the country. The manner in which members
of the bar launched a massive agitation campaign, with strong support
from the civil society and all the political parties in the opposition,
to uphold the independence and dignity of the superior judiciary
was unprecedented. The decision of the full court on 20 July 2007,
to set aside the reference and to reinstate the Chief Justice, has
become a milestone in the nation's struggle for democracy and the
rule of law.
The Chief of Army Staff tried to undo this judgement of 20 July
through a Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) on 3 November 2007,
under which he suspended the constitution and removed 55 Judges
of the Supreme Court and High Courts who refused to take oath under
the PCO, so that he could get a favourable verdict on his eligibility
for the office of the President. Judicial atrocity on this scale
is unthinkable in today's world.
PML(N) is fully convinced that with such overwhelming support from
the lawyers and the civil society, these Judges will be restored
and the judicial institutions will see a qualitative revolution
in the coming years. This regeneration of the judiciary will not
only bury for ever, the infamous law of necessity under which military
take overs have been sanctified in the past 5 decades, but also
ensure that justice, which is the corner stone of any civilized
society, is available to every citizen in all parts of the country.
Today the majority of people spend an inordinate amount of time
at police stations (thanas) and lower courts (katchery) where they
have no alternative but to buy justice through the vicious and endless
circle of safarish, bribery or blackmail. This culture has to be
ruthlessly uprooted.
PML(N) solemnly pledges to take effective steps to protect the independence
and dignity of the judicial system, through the following specific
measures:
· Appoint a judicial commission comprising eminent jurists,
Judges, parliamentarians, representatives of lawyers, and civil
society to recommend and supervise restructuring and reforms of
judicial system.
· The system of appointment of judges will be reformed to
ensure appointments on merit alone and in a transparent manner.
· Judicial information system shall be put in place for the
efficient functioning of judiciary.
· Lower judiciary will be strengthened for speedy delivery
of justice in order to protect the life and property of ordinary
citizens.
· Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms shall be developed
to facilitate social cohesion.
· All discriminatory laws shall be abolished.
· Fair and across the board application of law shall be ensured
in the fight against crime so that criminal elements are unable
to misuse the judicial system to their own advantage.
· Police will be made a community oriented service, and reformed
to become a modern crime-fighting machine with better training and
equipment.
· Narcotics trade and sectarian/religious violence will be
eliminated from the society.
· Special monitoring cells will be set up in the center and
the provinces to check heinous crimes, and heinous crime cases and
criminals will be dealt with an iron hand.
.
· Crime fighting agencies will be trained in the modern investigation
and crime prevention techniques and provided adequate tools.
· Citizen and Police liaison committees will be set up at
all levels.
· Pakistan Penal Code, Law of Evidence, and the Criminal
Procedures Code shall be revised to bring them in line with the
present day requirements of the society.
The concept of freedom and democracy is inseparable from the rule
of law. In Pakistan many political and social problems have remained
unresolved because we as a nation have not been able to establish
the rule of law. PML(N) will endeavor to lay down solid foundations
for the rule of law through the following specific measures:
· The appointment of the governors, services chiefs and the
CJCSC shall be made by the chief executive who is the prime minister,
as per the 1973 Constitution.
· No judge shall take oath under any Provisional Constitutional
Order or any other oath that is contradictory to the exact language
of the original oath prescribed in the Constitution of 1973.
· Administrative mechanisms will be instituted for the prevention
of misconduct, implementation of code of ethics, and removal of
judges on such charges brought to its attention by any citizen.
All special courts including anti-terrorism and accountability courts
shall be abolished and such cases tried in ordinary courts.
· A Federal Constitutional Court will be set up to resolve
constitutional issues, giving equal representation to each of the
federating units, whose members may be judges or persons qualified
to be judges of the Supreme Court, constituted for a six year period.
The appointment of judges shall be made in the same manner as for
judges of higher judiciary. The Supreme and High Courts will hear
regular civil and criminal cases.
· The ban on a 'prime minister not being eligible for a third
term of office' will be removed.
· A Commission shall also examine and identify the causes
of and fix responsibility for the Kargil crisis of 1999.
· The press and electronic media will be allowed its independence.
Access to information laws will be further improved.
· The chairman of public accounts committee in the national
and provincial assemblies would be appointed in consultation with
the leaders of the opposition in the respective assemblies.
4. Good Governance
The crisis of governance in Pakistan is extensive. We have to revitalize
the Pakistani society, as envisaged by the founding fathers, so
that it successfully integrates itself with the international community;
a society in which there is mutual respect, protection of the rights
of women, minorities and under-privileged.
Governance in Pakistan is almost in a state of collapse. The performance
of bureaucracy at various tiers of the government is ineffective
and inefficient (corruption notwithstanding) mainly on account of
inappropriate and whimsical appointments, postings and promotions
to various assignments. Immediate measures are required to correct
the situation, restore the confidence of the bureaucracy and to
ensure that they work with complete commitment. This will require
elimination of the dead wood, de-politicization and encouragement
to the qualified and competent.
It has been claimed that the plan for devolution of power to local
bodies has been carried out to empower the impoverished and strengthen
the local governments. But actually it has undercut mainstream political
parties, left widespread corruption unchecked and shifted power
away from the provinces as a means to bolster military rule. What
is required to develop institutions that will promote a democratic
culture and provide moderate political forces an opportunity to
serve the nation?
The key to good governance in Pakistan lies in the separation of
powers: the legislature should legislate, the executive should execute
laws and policies and the judiciary should interpret the constitution
and laws. Such a system cannot tolerate the overbearing presence
of the military with its uncontrolled access to the power and resource
base of the nation.
With this paramount objective in view PML(N) will set up a high
level Commission to look at the entire governance structure including
the devolution/decentralization process and to suggest amendments
in laws that recognize the ground realities in each province and
are also suited to the needs of the people.
Good Governance is a cross cutting theme and must apply to all institutions
that form part of the Government. There cannot be any exception
to this rule. It is imperative, therefore, to select/appoint people
of integrity to head all government institutions. PML(N) will take
following specific measures in this regard:
· In order to depoliticize bureaucracy, government servants
shall be given security of service through constitutional amendments.
· All discretionary power at all levels will be withdrawn
and all government decisions will be governed by law and merit.
· The records of courts, land revenue and police stations
will be computerized. These institutions will be provided with all
necessary wherewithal and training so that they function effectively
and efficiently to meet the requirements of the citizens at the
grass root level without sifarsih and rishwat.
· Kalashinkov culture, drug trafficking and smuggling shall
be eliminated through a systematic and effective reform programme.
· Reforming the system of administration to ensure that merit
prevails over contacts and there are generous rewards for efficiency
and honesty.
5. Corruption and Accountability
The evil of corruption has increased in the past 8 years and Pakistan
now ranks among the seventh most corrupt country in the world. Corruption
not only destroys the confidence of the people in the system of
governance, but is responsible for many other social and economic
evils in the country.
PML(N) will give top priority to the objective of eliminating corruption
from all segments of the society. For this purpose:
- The National Accountability Bureau will be revamped. It will not
be an organization to be used (misused) by the government for victimizing
its opponents. Military and judiciary will not be excluded from
its purview.
- The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will be replaced with
an independent accountability commission, whose chairman shall be
nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the leader
of opposition and confirmed by a join parliamentary committee with
50 percent members from treasury benches and remaining 50 percent
from opposition parties.
- Prescribing the criteria of integrity as a basic qualification
for all senior appointments and strict observance of the process
of accountability at all levels without any discrimination on the
basis of rank or seniority.
- District Ombudsmen offices shall be set up in all districts to
provide relief to other common man against injustice and bribery.
- The administrative system will be further streamlined to reduce
discretion and misuse of power.
6. Civil Military Relations
The crux of Pakistan's failure in developing sustainable democracy
lies in the repeated interference of military leadership in the
political affairs of the country, which has destabilized the country
to a point that further continuation of this pattern has become
a serious threat to the Federation. We lost East Pakistan on this
account, and voices of dissent from smaller provinces are once again
emerging. PML(N) feels it is about time that military, which is
a prestigious national institution, resumes a pure professional
role as in other democratic countries.
Keeping in view the principles enunciated in the Charter of Democracy,
PML(N) will give priority to inter-alia the following:
- National Security Council will be abolished. The Defense Committee
of the Cabinet will be reconstituted as the Cabinet Committee on
Defense and National Security and will be chaired by the prime minister.
It will have a permanent secretariat under a national security adviser
to the prime minister. The efficacy of the higher defense and security
structure, created two decades ago, will be reviewed. The Joint
Services Command structure will be strengthened and made more effective.
- Military's honour and respect as a professional and not a political
institution shall be restored. Highest professional standards in
the armed forces shall be maintained.
- The defense budget will be brought within the purview of the National
Assembly for approval.
7. Tolerant and Pluralistic Society
Prolonged periods of military rule in Pakistan have also led to
increased polarization along provincial, religions, ethnic and political
lines. The law and order situation in all parts of Pakistan is not
only threatened by extremism but also by large scale insurgency
as a reaction to the policy of using force in the tribal belt and
in Baluchistan, without adequate political support from all the
stakeholders. There is growing alienation among the smaller provinces
and between the urban and rural areas. This growing polarization
has shaken the very foundations of the Federation. PML(N) will strive
to arrest this trend and intensify efforts to create a more tolerant
and pluralistic society through the following measures:
· Supremacy of the Constitution and Parliament shall be restored
through making parliamentary institutions effective, accountable,
and responsive to the people.
· A new political order shall be enforced in consultation
with the opposition, whose guiding principles shall be the following:
- The 1973 Constitution as on 12 October 1999 before the military
coup shall be restored with the provisions of joint electorates,
minorities, and women reserved seats.
- The Legal Framework Order, 2000 and the Seventeenth Constitutional
Amendment shall be repealed.
- The Concurrent List in the Constitution will be abolished or drastically
curtailed. A new NFC award by consensus will be announced regularly
at 5 yearly intervals and the principle of provincial autonomy fully
respected.
- The reserved seats for women in the national and provincial assemblies
will be allocated to the parties on the basis of the number of votes
polled in the general elections by each party.
- The strength of the Senate of Pakistan shall be increased to give
representation to minorities in the Senate, and senate seats will
be allocated to parties in proportion to total votes secured by
them in most recent provincial elections on the basis of lists of
candidates filed along with the nomination papers for general elections.
- FATA shall be brought into the mainstream of the country's political,
economic and cultural life.
- Northern Areas shall be developed by giving it a special status
and further empowering the Northern Areas Legislative Council to
provide people of Northern Areas access to justice and human rights.
- Local body's elections will be held on party basis through provincial
election commissions in the respective provinces and constitutional
protection will be given to the local bodies to make them autonomous
and answerable to their respective assemblies as well as to the
people through regular courts of law.
- A Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be established to acknowledge
victims of torture, imprisonment, state-sponsored persecution, targeted
legislation, and politically motivated accountability. The Commission
will also examine and report its findings on military coups and
illegal removal of governments in the past two decades.
- Ensuring mutual respect and tolerance for a pluralistic society,
and the constitutional right of all citizens to profess and practice
their religion and develop their cultures.
- Promoting good governance on the basis of principles of equality
and social justice.
- Simplicity shall be enforced at all levels of the state machinery
and VIP culture shall be eliminated.
- The size of national and provincial cabinets shall be curtailed
and the number of Ministers and Ministers of State will not exceed
a certain percentage of seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies.
8. Extremism and Terrorism
Extremism and its dreadful manifestation in the form of terrorism
and suicide bombing, is a very complex phenomena whose nature must
be clearly understood. It is a lethal combination of traditional
nationalism rising against foreign occupation or foreign domination,
a mindset that believes in Islamic revival through force and coercion
and belatedly the symbolic manifestation of a new class war against
local, regional and global elites.
The number of people with an extremist mindset in Pakistan is very
small, but there is a much larger number of people, especially in
NWFP and the Tribal areas, who regard the war on terror as a campaign
against Islam. The use of force is and will remain necessary against
foreign and local terrorists who take innocent lives and also to
prevent infiltration across the Pakistan border, but it is even
more important to win the hearts and minds of people who support
them, through a concerted process of political engagement.
PML(N) is committed to pursue this dual track approach and take
resolute steps to eradicate the menace of extremism and terrorism
which is also becoming a serious threat to life and property in
Pakistan.
During its previous tenure from 1997 to 1999, the PML(N) government
took a series of measures to control terrorist group and counter
their activities. It also supported the efforts of the international
community to deal with this threat to peace and stability. In keeping
with this policy PML(N) will intensify these efforts by:
- Strengthening the capacity of law enforcing agencies to detect
and control terrorist groups and their supporters;
- Influencing the groups which directly or indirectly support terrorism,
through political intermediaries and civil society organizations
to adhere to basic Islamic principles of peace, moderation and justice.
- Promoting
the rule of law, tolerance and mutual respect in the country to
overcome the sense of desperation which pushes certain segments
of society towards extremism.
- Taking steps to mainstream the tribal areas into the political,
economic and cultural activities of the country and accelerating
the pace of economic and social development in these areas.
- Intensify diplomatic efforts to deal with the underlying causes
like Kashmir and Palestine.
9. Education
With knowledge becoming the key driver of economic and social progress
in future, education must become number one national priority. Education
is also the greatest single equalizer of society and mass education
can help to solve most of our problems. An educated, technological
advanced and progressive society is the aspiration of all the people
of Pakistan. During its previous tenure, the PML(N) government took
several important initiatives in this sector. These will be supplemented
by the following policiesonal programme. To ensure decisive movement
towards this vital objective, PML(N) will take the following steps:
§ Ensure that education in all public sector institutions upto
higher secondary will be free of cost. The system will work through
provision of transferable voucher scheme to encourage competition
in the public sector educational institutions.
§ Achieve 100% enrollment in middle school education by 2012,
100% enrollment in secondary education (Matric) by 2015; and 80%
enrollment in higher secondary education (Intermediate) by 2020.
§ Guarantee that all students who get first division in both
Matric and Intermediate examinations are ensured of a place in a
public sector college in their tehsil/taluka/sub-division. This
target will be achieved by 2010.
§ A National Education Corps will be set up to employ all graduates
without jobs and they will be employed in literacy and adult education
programmes with the objective of achieving 100% adult literacy by
2010, 100% adult education up to middle level by 2015, and 100%
adult education up to Matric by 2020.
§ The Federal Government will fund 50% of the public sector
education program up to higher secondary level through grants to
provinces and 100% of all public sector universities and higher
education institutions through grants. The Federal Government will
also fund the National Education Corp.
§ Provide maximum facilities for science education and vocational
training for all middle and high school students.
§ Provide fiscal and other incentives for private investment
in education.
§ Pay special attention to the development of libraries at
national, provincial and district levels.
§ Promote several centers for professional excellence in various
scientific disciplines by providing highly qualified teachers, generous
scholarships for training abroad, and liberal grants to science
laboratories.
PML(N) resolves to implement the National Education Policy 2010
to break the monopoly of elitist education system and to create
equal education opportunities for all by reviving delivery of quality
education in the public sector. A participatory approach will be
adopted to achieve key targets through public private partnerships.
Strategies shall be made to optimally harness and utilize the existing
education facilities by improving governance, efficiency, monitoring,
and effectiveness.
To improve the quality of education for the poor, Education Foundations
will be set up in each Province and eventually at the district level
to take over and manage education facilities through high level
professionals. As described in the section on Employment, they will
be received grants on per student basis.
National curricula will be standardized and adopted at all levels
to eliminate multi-class system based education in the country.
Sharp focus will be put on academic content in science and mathematics.
Curricula will be enriched by putting more emphasis on acquisition
of practical skills, along with theoretical perception, and environmental
education.
Teaching profession will be made more attractive by grant of higher
salaries to teachers who possess qualifications higher than the
prescribed level. Additional increments for better performers and
best teacher awards shall be introduced at all levels of education.
National medals and awards will be given to nation's best teachers
every year.
Principals/Heads of educational institutions/teachers will be given
special status in local areas. Female teachers will be posted as
close to their homes as possible.
Ethics and values based curriculum and teaching systems with a focus
on character building to develop honesty, perseverance, tolerance,
discipline, wisdom, innovation, respect, and team play, as enshrined
in Islam, will be introduced at all levels. The teaching of Quran
with translation will be compulsory for all Muslim students in secondary
schools.
10. Health
Without a healthy nation, there can be neither development nor progress.
Pakistan has lagged behind other developing countries in terms of
its social development. In the last ten years, due to Social Action
Program, initiated by PML-N government in 1992, there has been considerable
progress in improving the social indicators and controlling the
population growth rate as it mandated the provincial governments
to make significant allocations for the social sectors, despite
the financial problems they faced.
PML-N remains committed to social sector development and will inter-alia
pursue the policy of providing quality health care to all citizens
in all parts of the country through the following specific measures:
- Main Teaching Hospitals both in the Federal Capital and Provincial
headquarters will be modernized and equipped with the state of the
art medical equipment and facilities especially in the field of
Cardiovascular surgery, Cancer, Organs transplant, Brain surgery
and Burn and Dialysis units, so that people do not have to seek
expensive medical treatment abroad.
- Production of quality generic medicines will be encouraged to
provide cheaper medicines to the common man.
- Cardiac clinics and facilities shall be extended to district level
hospitals, and institutes will be provided more advanced technology
and modern equipment. Incentives will be provided to Cardiac clinics
and institutes in the private sector.
- To provide better services and coverage, District and Tehsil Hospitals
will be improved and upgraded by appointing DHOs on merit basis,
and providing sufficient financial and administrative powers and
better living facilities.
- All out efforts will be made to provide clean drinking water and
basic hygiene facilities to the rural population.
- AIDS is an incurable, fatal but preventable disease. A national
campaign will be launched to make people aware about its prevention
and dangerous consequences.
- Effective measures to control Hepatitis, which has become a serious
health problem in Pakistan, will be taken and coverage against Hepatitis
B extended to at least two third of the population.
- A new anti TB program, DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short
Course), against Tuberculosis will be implemented to control Tuberculosis.
Massive vaccination against Poliomyelitis, Neonatal tetanus, Malaria
and a cluster of childhood diseases will be carried out, and immunization
coverage will be increased to 75-80%.
- Homeopathy and Tibb will be promoted after they meet the criteria
of desired standards for medical education by making amendments
in the law.
- Senior citizens will be provided special health care facilities
like eye glasses, hospitalization and treatment at favourable fee
rates, and pharmacies will be instructed to provide medicines at
discounted prices. Free medical care will be provided to deserving
patients.
- Free medical care will be provided to poor and deserving patients
through Zakat fund assistance ear-marked for health care.
- Special health education centers shall be opened in all districts.
11. Science & Technology
A modern S&T infrastructure will be put in place including:
· PhD scholarships in local universities and world's top
universities in areas of priority for human resource development.
· Reorienting S&T infrastructure towards economic needs
of Pakistan for creating sustainable competitive advantage in exports.
· Strengthening the S&T organizations by providing research
grants and competent management.
· Developing competencies in the future technologies.
· Strengthening Quality and Productivity infrastructure in
the country through launching a national campaign in partnership
with the private sector.
· Promoting indigenous solutions and applied technology for
solving our economic and technical problems.
· Offering incentives to outstanding Pakistani scientists
and engineers to return to Pakistan and contribute to national development.
· Promoting local talent and manpower in consultancies.
· Giving role to professional bodies in national policy and
decision-making.
12. Reducing Poverty
Poverty in Pakistan has assumed alarming proportion. Despite government's
claims that it has reduced poverty, at least 50 million people are
still living in abject poverty, without adequate food, clothing,
education or shelter. The pattern of growth adopted by the present
government is pro-rich and the benefit of the higher rates of economic
growth achieved as a result of larger external flows after the events
of September 11, 2001, have accrued largely to higher income groups
and have hardly touched the bottom one third of the country's population
particularly those living in rural areas. Report by the international
financial institutions have confirmed that increasing inequality
has overshadowed poverty reduction, as income distribution has largely
benefited the urban population while adversely affecting the rural
inhabitants.
PML(N) will evolve a comprehensive package of pro-poor policies,
institutions and programmes. The overall approach on which this
package is based is holistic and its different elements are mutually
reinforcing:
- The processes through which causes and solutions of the poverty
problem are explored must involve the poor themselves. A participatory
poverty assessment programme will then generate the awareness and
the energy for participatory solutions. Most poor people, if asked,
will point to the inadequacy of the justice system, harassment by
police, discrimination by powerful individuals or groups in the
locality, lack of water and other essential services and absence
of dependable means of livelihood. These problems facing the poor
cannot be resolved unless and until we develop the human capital
of the poor through education and training, social capital of the
poor through formal and informal institutions and political capital
of the poor through inclusion in decision making at different levels.
- The basic foundation of a pro-poor policy framework is to recognize
and operationalize the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution
by ensuring equal rights under the law, universal access for all
citizens to public services, and equitable access to economic opportunities.
These rights can be safeguarded only under a genuine democratic
dispensation.
- The process of mainstreaming the poor, as opposed to helping them
at the margin through micro credit or different employment promotion
schemes, will require a series of institutional innovations that
can bring together the poor as the main beneficiaries with support
from professional managers.
- In this context PML(N) will set up Education Foundations for the
poor in each province. The foundations managed by qualified professionals
will take over existing under utilized public school buildings or
build new schools exclusively for the poor. The Provincial Government
will give them annual grants on per student basis. These provincial
foundations will gradually set up district education foundations.
The foundations may receive additional funding from local and international
donors.
- Similar foundations can be set up in the health sector at the
provincial and district level to manage basic health units and rural
health centers and expand these facilities for the benefit of the
poor. The Foundation can provide quality health services by using
electronic services.
- These institutional mechanisms for mainstreaming the poor will
also be extended to investment and income earning opportunities
by creating manufacturing and service enterprises which are owned
by the poor but run by the professional managers. The poor will
be given bank loans to buy equity in these enterprises and pay back
the loans through dividends earned by the enterprise.
- Similar mechanisms will be establishment in other sectors, like
land development, and agro services. Reclaimed land or state land
brought under cultivation through irrigation schemes will be allotted
primarily to poor and landless households, and Land Development
Corporations established in different districts with majority equity
holdings for the poor, contributed in kind or in cash through bank
loans. In urban areas, these corporations will establish housing
schemes for low income families.
- These foundations for the poor will play a major role in scaling
up the micro credit operations in the country by improving access
and ensure effective utilization and timely repayment.
- In addition PML(N) will maintain reasonable food prices throughout
the year in all parts of the country and protect wages in real terms
for urban and rural areas.
13. Employment
A major aim of the socio-economic policies of PML(N) will be to
expand employment opportunities in order to reduce poverty and at
the same time ensure a fuller utilization of the country's human
resources for productive purposes, through the following programmes:
· A National Manpower Plan will be prepared to match the
demand and supply of manpower and to provide a basis for periodical
adjustments in the programmes of education and training.
· New employment opportunities will be provided to over three
million persons in the public and private sectors.
· A programme of vigorous industrialization and small and
medium enterprises will be undertaken in the urban and rural areas
to absorb unemployed labour.
· Maximum emphasis will be placed on the programmes of rural
development to provide gainful opportunities for income and employment
within the rural areas and prevent the tendency of migration from
urban to rural areas.
· The taxation system will be modified to encourage rapid
growth in investment, particularly in employment intensive activities.
· A National Employment Fund will be created to assist qualified
and skilled youth to set up their own business or professional practice.
Self employment on individual or cooperative basis will be given
maximum support.
· A National Education Corps will be recruited from among
the educated unemployed to spread literacy in the country.
· Employment opportunities for qualified doctors will be
provided by constructing more hospitals; extending soft term, easy
installment loans on personal surety to doctors to establish them
in private practice; and giving tax concessions for establishment
and expansion of private hospitals.
· A comprehensive programme will be implemented for the full
absorption of engineers, scientist and other skilled manpower, including
a new National Consultancy Policy for the use of national consultants,
strengthening and expansion of existing scientific institutions,
creation of new institutes for modern technologies and making it
obligatory for the private industrialists to hire adequate expertise
in their respective fields.
· A programme for the development of technical skills to
produce technically trained and employable manpower will be implemented.
For this purpose the intake of polytechnics and vocational schools.
Initially this can be achieved by introducing double shift in existing
institutions.
· Para medical training institutions for females will be
attached to each district and tehsil hospital and facilities for
the training of female teachers will be expanded in all districts
to meet the large demand for these personnel, particularly in rural
areas.
14. Controlling Inflation
Inflation has become one of the most serious problems for the common
man, since the prices of most essential items have gone up from
80 to 150 percent in the past 8 years. This is partly the result
of a liquidity driven and consumption based growth strategy under
which the unprecedented inflow of external resources after 9/11
has gone into real estate, the stock market and large scale consumer
financing by the Banks. At the same time, the relative neglect of
agriculture, created serious shortages of different commodities
at different times in the country, and did not allow adequate supply
response to the growing demand created by excess liquidity.
PML(N) will tackle this back-breaking problem through a multi pronged
strategy by:
- Giving top priority to the agriculture sector and within agriculture
to high value and minor crops, like fruits, vegetables, pulses,
vegetable oil and spices.
- Improving the post harvest, marketing storage and transport systems
for these crops to reduce crop losses and ensure reasonable prices
in different parts of the country.
- Expanding processing facilities for high value crops to even out
seasonal fluctuations in prices.
- PML(N) will pay special attention to food prices, which have more
than doubled in the past 8 years to ensure that items like wheat,
rice, sugar and edible oils are available to the common man at reasonable
prices.
- PML(N) will also adopt a pro-poor and inclusive growth strategy
to increase the incomes of poor people by diverting resources from
the consumption to investment through appropriate fiscal and other
policies.
15. Agricultural and Rural Development
Pakistan Muslim League (N) believes that prosperous agriculture
is the real basis of national prosperity and diversification of
the rural economy by expanding non farm rural employment is critical
for the alleviation of poverty. To accelerate the pace of agricultural
and rural development, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) shall:
· Turn agriculture into a fully viable economic industry
by changing the policy framework and terms of trade in favour of
agriculture.
· Focus on the small farmers as the real back bone of the
rural economy and assure his access to knowledge, inputs and markets.
Development of the livestock sector will be given high priority.
· Revitalize the cooperative movement to meet the real needs
of the rural population by setting up agri service corporations
with majority equity of the poor and managed by professional managers.
· Reform the agricultural credit system to ensure that at
least 50% of the total is provided to the small farmers and land
owners are able to obtain credit on the basis of the market value
of the land rather than outdated produce index units.
· Move rapidly towards national self-sufficiency in oil seeds.
· Convert Pakistan into a large net exporter of food and
high-value crops and remove restrictions on agricultural exports.
· Building consensus on the basis of the 1991 Water Accord
on the distribution of Indus System to allow new water projects
to be undertaken and extension of irrigation facilities to additional
areas.
· Ensure full utilization of available water resources by
expanding the on-farm water management programme.
· Initiate schemes for crop insurance through private insurance
companies to protect the farmer against the vagaries of weather.
· Encourage ecologically sound development policies to preserve
and develop the country's natural and forest resources to counteract
the impact of global warming.
· Provide incentives for farmers to adopt social forestry
on a commercial scale rather than depend on restrictive laws for
this purpose particularly in border areas.
· Expand the programme to fight the cancer of water-logging
and salinity.
· A major programme of aquifer recharge in arid and semi
arid areas of Cholistan, Thar and Balochistan to ensure that water
flow from tubewells installed in these areas can be sustained.
· Immediate updating of the revenue and property records
using Information Technology will be undertaken. Based on the information
so generated 'benamis' can be done away with property rights of
female members protected and access to credit by the poor assured.
· Policy shift in agriculture from commodity based agriculture
to product based agriculture. As an example 22 products can be produced
from corn.
· All agricultural research organizations will be completely
revamped to ensure that the benefits of research actually reach
the farmers.
· Agricultural education in general and curriculum of agriculture
universities in particular will be modernized.
· Mafias and monopolies in case of major agriculture products
will be done away with by putting in place appropriate agricultural
marketing strategies.
Under its land reform programme, PML(N) will reclaim and irrigate
additional land for allotment to landless haris and tenants. It
will also undertake a land consolidation programme to create viable
units for modern agriculture.
16. Industrial Development
The manufacturing sector in Pakistan is in a state of crisis because
of rising costs of utilities and credit and low labour productivity.
Its industrial structure is stuck in low value sectors and its ability
to complete is shrinking. The survival of any nation in today's
world depends upon its ability to absorb the technological progress
of this age and improve its competitive edge. Planned industrial
development along with sustained progress in agriculture must be
the two important pillars of our economic policy.
To transform Pakistan rapidly into a modern, industrial society
the Pakistan Muslim League (N) will extend in addition to existing
tax holiday facilities a complete tax holiday to all new industries
for the first three years after they go into production, to promote
a major explosion in industrial investment and employment.
Industrial growth is essentially linked with the development of
infrastructure facilities. We pledge to introduce immediate measures
to remove existing imbalances by adopting the following specific
measures:
· Provide the full energy needs of an expanding industrial
sector through maximum exploitation of domestic sources of energy
namely coal, gas and hydro to reduce the country's dependence on
imported energy, combined with measure for the conservation of energy
and more efficient use of energy.
· Provide improved means of communications including telecommunications
and port facilities to meet the growing needs of our industry.
· Improve the transportation systems in major industrial
zones and urban centers and complete the network of motorways initiated
by the PML(N) government in the 1990's.
· Chambers of Commerce and Industry will be encouraged to
develop industrial zones in suitable locations with access to as
for electricity generation.
· Industrial
estates, equipped with electricity, gas, telephone, and sewerage
will be developed, especially in backward areas and along the motorways,
for the convenience of domestic and overseas investors. Efforts
will be made to put in place standard factory buildings ready for
occupation, without any waiting period. Multinational companies
with expertise in the field will be invited to develop infrastructure
facilities in collaboration with local companies.
· Streamline the procedure for industrial sanctions and other
facilities required in line with the principle of "one window
facility".
· Improve the system of industrial credit and enable land
owners to borrow funds on the basis of the market value of agricultural
land and rural property.
17. Women
In Islam, women enjoy place of honor and dignity that is unparallel
in history. The talents of both men and women are acknowledged equally
in Islam. It is for the same reason that acquiring knowledge has
been ordained for both equally. PML-N shall:
- Ensure respect, dignity, and protection granted by Islam to women.
- Promote participation of women in national development and their
social, political and economic empowerment.
- Give preference to women teachers in primary education.
- Promote female education and health care programs to overcome
gender gaps.
- Effective representation of women in all key policy/decision making
bodies shall be ensured.
- Special legislation on violence against women and child abuse
shall be enacted.
- Micro credit for female borrowers will be expanded substantially
as a part of the process of their empowerment.
18. Youth
Youth is Pakistan's future. More than 52 percent of our population
is less than 19 years of age. PML-N believes that it is the youth,
which can change the destiny of the nation.
- Youth training program shall be started to create 100,000 positions
for apprenticeship in trade and industry. These opportunities shall
be created in collaboration with the private sector.
- Self-employment loans shall be extended to those who complete
training/apprenticeship.
- Inter-province visits of youth shall be organized.
- Youth shall be provided special sports facilities in all educational
institutions.
- Anti-addiction campaign shall be launched to stop youth from drugs
abuse.
19. Labour
No economy can prosper without fair and equitable treatment of its
work force. PML-N developed a Labour friendly policy during its
earlier tenure. It shall pay special attention to the following
measures:
- Safety at work and proper compensation for industrial injuries
shall be legislated.
- Total prohibition of child labour through effective monitoring
and strict enforcement of law shall be ensured.
- Laws against bonded labour and unpaid labour shall be strengthened
and effectively enforced.
- Quality of labour force shall be improved through technical training
and apprenticeship.
- Parks / community centers shall be developed near labour colonies.
- Incentives shall be given to employers for offering scholarships
for the talented children of workers.
- The minimum wage for workers will be enhanced to Rs.5000 per month
and the role of collective bargaining agents will be made more effective
keeping in view the relevant ILO Conventions.
20. Minorities
Minorities are an integral part of our nation as announced by the
founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. An Islamic
society is obliged to protect the social, religious, and economic
interests of minorities. PML-N shall steadfastly guard these interests
and ensure their absolute and fundamental rights of freedom, security,
equal opportunity, and equality before law.
- A commission shall be set up to look into complaints of religious
discrimination.
- Scholarships for higher education shall be offered for talented
children of minorities from low income families.
- Minorities shall be integrated in the mainstream of national development
through active participation at different levels.
21. National Security and Foreign Policy
The independence and sovereignty of the country and the freedom
of its people will always be the supreme guiding principle in the
conduct of the country's foreign policy. It will, therefore, be
formulated and executed in a manner to strengthen the country's
sovereignty as well as to ensure the well-being of its citizens.
To this end, the highest priority would be accorded to strengthening
the nation's defenses, while promoting peace and stability in the
country and the region.
Pakistan succeeded in acquiring nuclear and missile capability in
the teeth of stiff opposition from outside powers. This is a trust
of the people of Pakistan and we remain committed to preserve, protect
and enhance it. No proposal or initiative would ever be considered
if it compromises, weakens, reduces or diminishes this capability.
While actively supporting all UN and global initiatives for curbing
the menace of international terrorism, Pakistan must seek to promote
a just and fair international political and economic order, based
on the Charter of the United Nations UN and the principles of peaceful
co-existence.
Every effort would be made to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,
in accordance with the provisions of the relevant UN resolutions
and in consonance with the aspirations of the people of the territory
for their inherent right of self determination.
A peaceful settlement of all outstanding issues with India, in a
spirit of fairness and equity would be accorded special priority
by the Party.
Unity and solidarity amongst the member states of the Organization
of Islamic Countries (OIC) would be promoted and efforts made to
strengthen the effectiveness and credibility of the organization.
Special attention will be accorded to strengthening relations with
the brotherly Islamic states, given our historic commitment to promoting
fraternal relations with them.
China has been a time tested friend of Pakistan. Every effort would
be made to strengthen and enhance this relationship, so as to make
it truly strategic, by imparting greater substance and depth to
it.
The proposed Cabinet Committee on Defense and National Security
will be fully utilized to establish political and civilian control
over foreign policy. The foreign policy will be re-oriented in such
a manner that there is greater commercial and economic content in
our ties with friendly powers.
As a developing, non-aligned country, Pakistan's foreign policy
shall endeavor to strengthen its relations, particularly in the
economic sector, with other developing countries of Asia, Africa
and Latin America.
Special measure would be taken to promote the global trading regimes,
with emphasis on protecting the interests and requirements of developing
countries.
22.
Our Vision for the Future
Pakistan today stands at a cross road. The beginning of twenty first
century marks a new landmark in the history of human civilization.
If we act together, a new history can be written. It is time to
look forward and harness the nation's positive energies. The Pakistan
Muslim League (N) will seek national reconciliation, national dialogue,
and national consensus on the future agenda for Pakistan. PML(N)
believes that besides politicians, the judiciary, the bureaucracy,
businessmen, media, professionals, ulema, farmers, workers, youth,
women, and civil society are stake holders of Pakistan's future.
PML(N) possesses both the experience and competence to steer the
country towards economic prosperity. It will seek broad based consultation
and participation of all sectors of society in implementing its
vision for creating a society with democratic institutions, the
rule of law and prosperity for all, regardless of gender, religion,
region, or language. This is our "Pledge with the Nation".
The Manifesto Committee
The Policy Planning Committee (Think Tank) of PML(N) served as the
Manifesto Committee for the preparation of this Manifesto:
1. Mr. Sartaj Aziz Chairman
2. Mr. Ahsan Iqbal Member
3. Senator Mehtab Ahmad Khan Member
4. Senator Sadia Abbasi Member
5. Khawaja Muhammad Asif, MNA Member
6. Mr. Parvez Malik, MNA Member
7. Rana Tanwir Hussain Member
8. Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan Member
9. Sultan Ali Chaudhry Member
10. Khawaja Qutbuddin Member
11. Mr. Siddiqueul Farooque Member
12. Mr. A.Z.K. Sherdil Member
13. Mr. Saeed Mehdi Member
14. Mr. Tariq Fatemi Member
15. Mr. Farogh Naveed Member
16. Mr. Ghafoor Mirza Member/Secretary
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