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Pakistan Peoples Party
Manifesto 1997


A RETURN TO HISTORY

Once again, the popularly elected governments and assemblies have been dissolved without being allowed to fulfill the people's mandate and to complete their constitutional term. This is the fourth dissolution since 1988 and the fifth since 1977 alone. It is the third time that the Peoples Government has been undemocatically removed because it cannot be combated politically. The Eighth Amendment imposed on the Constitution of 1973 by a hated military dictator has negated the will of the people. Tragically it has been done by a President elected on the solemn pledge not to dissolve the assemblies or to allow the Presidency to become a den of conspiracies against the federal parliamentary system and the people of Pakistan. This demonstrates that the power of the 8th Amendment is so seductive that a man can break a twenty year belief in the power of the people to determine their own destiny.
The will of the people has been aborted and the right of franchise has become a joke; the supremacy of Parliament has been undermined by an autocratic system with a penchant to keep civil society as its hapless subject. The principles of government and accountability by the people are negated in one way or another - through Ayub Khan's to General Zia's prolonged martial law, through the office of the Governor General to the President of the Eighth Amendment and through EBDO and PRODA to the discriminatory Ehtesab Ordinance. In the quasi-democratic existence of Pakistan, 54 elected National and Provincial assemblies have been dissolved before they could complete their tenure, and all 13 Prime Ministers have been prematurely and arbitrarily removed from office. In all this half the country was lost.
Since the fifties dictators, military and civilian, have used alleged corruption as a tool to discredit and defame Parliaments and parliamentarians and as the ground to throw out popular elected assemblies. In the case of the Peoples Government the same allegations have been used. But it is a fact, that dictatorship has given birth to the major incidence of corruption in the country, and it is perhaps not coincidental that the Peoples Government was dismissed soon after presenting an across the board accountability bill and list of main loan defaulters before the National Assembly.
Despite a protracted struggle by the valiant people of Pakistan to determine their own fortune, both the state and society, in this our Golden Jubilee year, are marked by the absence of a viable political system. The British have left, but the colonial thought processes left behind by them continue to hamper the nation's march towards a libertarian, egalitarian, moderate, progressive and, above all, a federal, democratic, parliamentary and non-discriminatory polity, as perceived by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
The November 5 Dissolution Order has caused a grave crisis by subverting the all-enveloping progress made by the Peoples Government in: attracting unprecedented foreign investment, developing energy and physical infrastructure, improving and expanding social services for human resource development and poverty eradication, undertaking courageous macro-economic and structural reforms, reducing fiscal deficit by over three per cent, withdrawing tax exemptions from incomes, restoring peace in Karachi, destroying terrorist's and drug Mafia's sanctuaries, reviving Pakistan's important position in international forums, restoring crucial Pak-US relations, placing the Kashmir issue at the centre-stage of world diplomacy, pre-empting a unilateral nuclear roll-back, taking on the corrupt by bringing a constitutional amendment bill for across-the-board accountability, revealing and taking to task the defaulters, and, finally, moving towards striking down the 8th Amendment to re-establish the supremacy and the continuity of Parliament.
The world has swiftly and fundamentally changed at all levels, but the people of Pakistan are not being allowed to break the shackles of obscurantist, fundamentalist, authoritarian and archaic feudal/tribal/ethnic/sectarian ideologies. The road to progress continues to be hampered by a four-D trap of debt-demography-dictatorship-dehumanization.

THE TASK

The Pakistan Peoples Party has never shirked from the tasks or the responsibilities given to it by the people of Pakistan. It has tried its utmost to perform its historic duties on both foreign and domestic fronts. However, it is pertinent to recall that the People's Government inherited seven onerous legacies from General Zia and his surrogates:
First, the supremacy of Parliament was handicapped by the 8th Amendment;
Second, Pakistan was about to be placed on the list of states sponsoring terrorism and drug trafficking since it had become a nursery of extremists and a sanctuary for terrorists of all hues, drug traffickers and kalashnikov culture. The very security of the state was endangered;
Third, fiscal mismanagement with the deficit climbing to over eight percent of GDP officially (nine and a half percent unofficially), plunder of financial sector by defaulters, spending beyond our means on non-productive areas, heavy bank-borrowings and an absolute reliance on foreign aid/loans had brought the country to the verge of insolvency and into a vicious debt-trap situation with the fiscal deficit and bank borrowings climbing to crisis proportions, leaving nothing to invest in human resources and infrastructure; there was a negative growth rate after taking into account the population increase and foreign exchange reserves had spiralled down to $ 300 million.;
Fourth, a neglect of physical infrastructure had resulted in massive load-shedding and a lack of investment in social sectors had led to the deterioration of human resources, increase in poverty and pauperization;
Fifth, a state of ethnic fascism was created within the state jeopardizing law and order in the largest city of the country and putting the integrity of Sindh and the Federation at great risk;
Sixth, due to the negation of all democratic institutions under prolonged martial law, the balance of power had shifted in favour of the proponents of the 8th Amendment and an autocratic establishment at the cost of the directly elected chief executive, negating the sovereignty of the legislature in a supposed trichotomy of power;
Seventh, negation of universally recognized human rights especially with regard to minorities, women, children had become the order of the day.

THE AGENDA

After obtaining a popular mandate for its 'Agenda for Change', the party adopted a seven-pronged strategy to rid the country of the devastation caused by General Zia's and his political successor's mis-rule:
First, after being elected on a commitment to the principle of supremacy of parliament and the federal parliamentary system, it continued to offer the opposition a constitutional package on the common points in the manifestos of the two mainstream parties, including the repeal of the 8th Amendment, restoration of the women's reserved seats, bringing the minorities into the mainstream, creating an independent Election Commission and modern electoral laws. However, the opposition took a thoughtless course of confrontation which did not allow the treasury benches, lacking the requisite two-thirds majority, to implement its constitutional package. The National Assembly were arbitrarily dissolved before it could scrap the 8th Amendment and introduce wide ranging electoral reform and pass the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Bill, 1996, for an across-the-board accountability and the Provincial Assemblies were desolved before they could, as the popularly elected electoral college, legitimately elect half of the Senate in March, 1997;
Second, by portraying a moderate, democratic and progressive image of Pakistan, on the one hand, and launching a crusade against extremists, terrorists and the drug mafia, on the other, the PPP-led government won the support of democratic forces all over the world and averted the danger of being declared a rogue state. The Pressler Amendment was replaced with the Brown Amendment, held-up defence equipment was released and the Clinton administration pledged to return the money paid for the F-16s. The Kashmir dispute was brought back on the international agenda with the US showing its willingness to mediate, the OIC passed a unanimous resolution and the All Parties Hurriyat Conference representatives attended the various Contact Group meetings. The Peoples Government took a lead in breaking new ground in international diplomacy and human initiatives, such as in the Cairo Conference on Population, Beijing Conference on Women and Social Summit in Copenhagen, to quote a few;
Third, it took a courageous road to implement the Structural Adjustment Programme, it revived fiscal discipline, brought down the fiscal deficit by over three per cent, increased revenues, improved the balance of payments situation, increased investment and growth, expedited privatization in a transparent manner, invested in infrastructure, human resources and retired debt, moved from presumptive taxes to VAT and taxes on consumption (GST). The budget deficit was brought down by over three per cent from over 8%, growth was revived to 6.12% from 2.4%, inflation was kept under control and was expected to further decelerate, for the first time debt was retired, actual on ground record foreign investment of over US$ 3 billion took place, while pledges for another $22 billion were received. The IMF agreed to revive the Standby Arrangement, to provide balance of payments' stabilization, beside ESAF, and the World Bank, ADB and the other donors had agreed to vitalize the financial sector and fund the Social Action Programme (SAP).
In all this the Peoples Government acted as a dam against the tough conditionalities agreed to by Mr. Moin Qureshi as a consequence of PML-N's disastrous financial performance. The PPP Government took steps to protect and shield the people from the rigours of those agreements. The Peoples Government dam is no longer there, and the consequences can be seen and felt by all;
Fourth, the People's Government gave top most priority to neglected physical and social infrastructure and set the right priorities. Given a ten to twelve-hour load-shedding and enormous economic losses, the energy policy for private sector investment succeeded in actually attracting more than US$ 4 billion to produce over 3200 MW of electricity. With the completion of the Hubco Power Project and other projects, load-shedding was to completely end in 1997. In fact, loadsheding has ended at the time this Manifesto is announced. Beside thermal power, work on Ghazi Barotha hydel power project has been initiated. Similarly, highways, transmission lines, pipelines, communication, Gwadar deep sea port, Keti Bander port, gas and oil fields and refineries were promoted, planned and/or developed. A massive human resource development programmes , which included the deployment of 50,000 women health workers, in the area of primary health care and mass literacy, population welfare, computer education and vocational training centres, women development and participation, were launched. Campaigns against illiteracy, population explosion, epidemics, polio and drug addiction were implemented. The Social Action Programme focused on the development of basic social services and infrastructures necessary to eradicate poverty and backwardness. An unprecedented outlay of $ 8 billion was committed to SAP;
Fifth, the Nawaz Sharif government launched a clean-up operation by the army in June 1992, but miserably failed to restore law and order and nab the terrorists since the PML-N was (and continues to be) in collaboration with the ethnic fascists. The Peoples Government withdrew the army and appointed an Urdu-speaking governor on MQM-A's demand, but the terrorists were not ready to abandon the dream of Jinnahpur or their bloody confrontation. They, rather, intensified the massacre of innocent people, kidnappings for ransom and unbridled terrorism. Instead of choosing the political and legal path for a just political settlement acceptable to all in Sindh, they took the road of open insurgency through urban guerrilla warfare.
The largest city and major port of Pakistan, the integrity of both Sindh and the Federation and the life and security of the people could not be made a hapless hostage to terrorism. Fulfilling its lawful responsibilities, the People's Government came to the rescue of the people of Karachi and restored peace. Consequently, as compared to 2043 persons killed and 2436 injured in 1995, including hundreds of brave law enforcing personnel, the numbers of killed and injured drastically came down to 399 and 559 respectively in 1996. Belying the President's claim of large numbers of extra judicial killings, the Courts remained open to all to challenge any death in suspicious circumstances. Given the economic dimension of the crisis, the Federal Government initiated a Rs.121 billion economic package for Karachi. The backbone of the terrorists having been broken, unless they receive a fresh lease of life under the Caretakers and the Co-Federationists, a situation conducive to a political settlement among different ethnic communities in Sindh has been created, provided ofcourse that the political elements in the MQM-A separated from the terrorists, reciprocate in good faith;
Sixth, though with the return of democracy and the ostensible transfer of power of the Chief Executive's powers from the President to the Prime Minister, institutional overlapping continued under the 8th Amendment at the cost of Parliament and the elected chief executive. It was during the People's Government that the system of defacto troika rule came to an end with the revival of the Cabinet's Defense Committee. Thanks to the interplay of forces in parliamentary democracy, it was the People's Government which separated the judiciary from the executive and the March 20 judgement of the Supreme Court was implemented, despite a Presidential Reference questioning the prerogative of the Prime Minister in the appointment of judges to the superior judiciary. This judgement has vindicated the Prime Minister's position that her/his advice is binding on the President;
Seventh, eradication of marginalisation of women, the minorities and the poor and discrimination against the vulnerable sections of society remained one of the main concerns of the Peoples Government. Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto took a courageous position in the Cairo conference on Population and Development and Beijing Conference on Women. New programs of action and agendas were set to empower women, ensure their participation in all walks of life and to improve their lot-Muslim Women Parliamentary Conference was held, the CEDAW was signed by Pakistan, women judges were appointed, a Ministry for Women Development was created, women police stations were established, 50,000 women health workers were trained for mother and child care, population planning programme helped bring down growth rate to 2.8 per cent and all-sided efforts were made against gender bias and to create necessary conditions for a status equal to men. But efforts to restore the women's reserved seats and strike down some discriminatory laws were frustrated by the PML-N and their extremist allies.
Similarly, the religious minorities heaved a sigh of relief during the Peoples Government and steps were taken to safeguard the rights of the most deprived minorities. A full minister was inducted and electoral reforms were initiated to bring voters from the minorities into the mainstream of the electoral process. However, the initiative was again rejected by PML-N. Misuse of blasphemy laws against the members of minorities was discouraged. On the contrary the PML-N joined a broad-based religious front (TTNR) to further strangulate the minorities in stark contradiction of the humanitarian teachings of Islam and the liberal guidelines of the Founder of the Nation.
The Peoples Government presided over a very difficult transition while facing a hostile opposition. Due to the early removal of the Peoples Government and the dissolution of the assemblies in some areas, the "Agenda for Change" remained partially unfulfilled, despite concerted efforts. Yet, despite infinite constraints, a limited mandate and compulsions of coalition, the Peoples Government was able to accomplish much in a short period of 36 months. Had it been allowed to complete its tenure, it would have been in a much better position to fully implement its 'Agenda for Change'. On balance, the Peoples Government was able to deliver on major and vital issues and challenges, such as foreign policy, defense, investment, energy, physical infrastructures, human resource development, growth, macro-economic reforms, human rights, peace in Karachi and flushing out and fighting extremism.
The Peoples Government ministers were barred from taking any loans. The Peoples Government published the list of defaulters of Rs 130 billion and brought an effective bill against corruption and for the accountability of all -from PRESIDENT TO PEON- without exception. But, as in 1990, a smear campaign was launched to destabilize the government and the President stabbed the democratic process in the back and made every effort to re-establish a Presidential form of Government.

THE DANGER TO PAKISTAN

The 8th Amendment is a time bomb ticking in the body politic of Pakistan. It was placed in the Constitution by a dictator who was supported by fanaticism and having failed to impose his pseudo Islamic agenda on the people needed an instrument to repress representative political forces whenever democracy started to flourish. Gen. Zia died having had a chance to use the 8th Amendment only once and although his legacy was defeated in the elections of 1988, the forces that he nurtured and represented went underground, infiltrating all sections of society and all institutions, including political parties. Their agenda is clear. They want a secetarian state. They believe that only fanactics like them, steeped in their special sense of Islam, have the right to rule the country. They want military confrontation with our neighbours. They reorganised, prepared and in 1990 used the 8th Amendment to remove the Peoples Government. They rigged the 1990 election. Yousuf Ramzi a known terroist tried to kill Benazir Bhutto during the 1993 elections when it was obvious she would lead the Pakistan Peoples Party to victory. When the Peoples Government was returned to office in 1993, they escalated ethnic and secretrian violence. When this was put down by the Peoples Government they tried to overthrow the Peoples Government in 1994 but renowned social worker Abdus Sattar Edhi revealed the plan. In 1995 there was the failed "Islamic coup" attempt of Gen. Abbassi. In 1996 the brother of the Prime Minister was killed to destabalise the Peoples Government. With the Peoples Government acting decisively to deal with these fanatics and terrorists by extraditions and by closing down the bases used by them to export terorism and narcotics the extremists had to act to remove Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
The 8th Amendment has also provided fertile ground for political opportunists. Falling prey to the overtures of those forces, who encouraged the President to believe that he and his batch mates could run the country better than the elected representatives and who provided street demonstrations, a media campaign against the Peoples Government and the death of the Prime Minister's brother to lay the ground work for the dismissal, the President, reminisent of Gen. Zia's imposition of martial law, at 2.00 a.m. on November 5, 1996, removed the Peoples Government, dismissed the National Assembly and placed the elected Prime Minister under prospective custody. There followed, thereafter, an obcene operation for preparing the grounds and finding the agents to dissolve the provincial assemblies. Since the dissolution the President has become the de facto Prime Minister amending election laws at will, openly organising and encouraging his own "King's Party", causing the only upright man in the cabinet to resign, and laying the groundwork for a "hung" parliament. However, President Leghari is a pawn in the hands of the extremists and he is being encouraged by them and his own ambitions to either cancel the elections or have a hung parliament. He thinks he will be succesful in the February 3 polls by ensuring that candidates from the major political parties are disqualified. Mr. Nawaz Sharif , having been protected from disqualification by an adroit and timely amendment of the election laws, also thinks that he can make gains in the elections and is oblivious of what is in store for him, his party and the country. Both are wrong. A delay in elections or a hung parliament will only cause economic disruption and bring the political system to the point of collapse. This is exactly what the extremists want.
In the meanwhile, co-federationist and seccessionists are being given a free hand. Sectarian violence is stalking the country. There is talk of shifting the capital of Sindh. The Caretaker Prime Minister sees no future for Pakistan after 20 years. Will we let the same thing that happened to East Pakistan happen to us again?
The Pakistan Peoples Party is following the situation closely and urges other democratic forces to do likewise.

COMPLETING THE AGENDA

The continuation of the "Agenda for Change" for the sustaining Pakistan, its democratic institutions, for the alleviation of human misery, despair and for the development of infrastructure and human resources on a large scale, alongwith structural, electoral, institutional and constitutional reforms has become vital not only to radically transform the relationship between the state and society but also to find a sustainable basis for national security .
Decades of dependence on foreign resources mobilization strategy has completely arrested the creativity of our people and taken away from them their right to make collective decisions in matters crucial to their future. Our people have been depending on local elite and national bureaucracy for decision making and have been struggling for devolution of authority to the village and mohalla level. Now through structural adjustments periodically entered into by successive caretaker governments, even the elite and national bureaucracy have forfeited their decision making rights and transferred this authority to foreign institutions.
The isolation and remoteness of the people of Pakistan and their elected representatives from the task of shaping their own destiny is evident from the fact that IMF conditionalities imposed upon elected governments by successive care taker governments have virtually acted as the national budgets for successive years, which leave little if no manoeuvring room for elected governments to implement the agenda on which they receive the mandate of the people.
Members of a society suppressed by long years of military rule have lost all perception of their rights. Continuos abuse of power has created a class, which only believes in privileges. Getting away with violations of law has become an indicator of respect and influence. Large scale tax evasion, theft of utilities, default on repayment of bank loans , misuse of state funds and resources, open embezzlements are some of the measures through which the affluent consolidate their wealth and power at the cost of the nation. The bureaucracy, not answerable to anyone, bought away by the affluent and having their own large share in the loot of the plunderers, provides them with the administrative cover to carry on their plunder. All this breeds dissatisfaction.
Social satisfaction is depleting with growing social disparities. Distinction between the needs and wants is disappearing fast. Growing wants of the inessential items is contributing heavily to moral degradation of all sections of our society. All this is providing a fertile ground for extremist elements promising an Islamic revolution. The revolution is the apple of temptation given by Eve to Adam
The state, therefore, has to provide a policy framework, as well as resources to act through a grand coalition of non-governmental organisation of the people (specially those belonging to the deprived section of society), financial institutions, co-operative and decentralized government agencies working under new norms, so that the weaker strata of our society are meaningful empowered. It is only through massive involvement of the people, working hand and hand with the state apparatus and the remodelling of the latter that the damaging side effects of open-economy industrialisation can be controlled.
A lasting solution has to be found to get out of a debt-demographic-dictatorship-dehumanization trap with a debt retirement plan, bringing population growth to less than two per cent and consolidating democratic governance. A dynamic balance has to be found between democracy and development, rural and urban areas, the Federation and the Provinces and the Provinces and the Districts, authority and accountability. A sustainable model of development, high rate of savings and investment for a much needed higher growth rate should help eradicate poverty and underdevelopment. In the meanwhile, peace in the region and an equal and collective end to a lethal arms race, accompanied by the just resolution of disputes, can release tremendous resources to bring prosperity for the hundreds of million people living below the poverty line in the sub-continent.
As we enter the new millennium with Asia at its centre-stage with its vast resources, human and material, markets and ingenuity, the people of Pakistan are not fated to live in misery, poverty, backwardness, hatred, conflicts or parochial tensions. There is no basis or reason to stop the people of our part of Asia from joining the ranks of the fast developing South East Asian countries in an emerging interdependent world of co-operating nations.
To reach that goal , the people of South Asia need to take daring initiatives in transcending our material and historical limitatations. Instead of wasting our energies and bountiful but precious resources in allowing chauvinist, annexationist and hegemonic agendas to flourish, we should focus on peace, democracy, free enterprise and progress, to avert military conflicts, revert an arms race, and forge just and lasting solutions to disputes, such a Kashmir and the civil war in Afghanistan. We must let open the gates of people to people co-operation, communication, trade and investment.
We, the people of Pakistan, for our part, should be ready to take historical initiatives at every level to settle disputes and difference, such as on Kashmir and nuclear proliferation in South Asia, with our neigbours, on a reciprocal basis, universally recognized principles of justice, even-handedness and non-discriminatory standards, international law and United Nations' initiated processes and resolutions. A new beginning has to be made if the peoples of South Asia are to live in peace and harmony, divert their resources to poverty eradication, mutually beneficial economic collaboration and development.
Who can accept this enormous challenge and lead the nation to take a great leap forward in a most competitive and fast developing world of today? The Pakistan Peoples Party is the only party which has shown a unique sense of history, dynamism and adaptability to take up ever new challenges in an ever changing environment. At each historical stage, it formulated a new theorem in accordance with the objective conditions of our time, such as socialism in the late '60s and the '70s, liberal democracy in the '80s, privatization-liberalization in the '90s, and humanism, peace, modernization, private-public partnership, economics-in-command while entering the next millennium.
In its three decade existence, the Pakistan Peoples Party led all popular-democratic movements; from the struggle for the right to adult-franchise and federal parliamentary system (1967-70) to the movement for the restoration of democracy (1977-88). Most of the great national achievements go to the PPP's credit: from the 1973 Constitution to the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Bill, from Steel Mills to Heavy Mechanical Complex, from Port Qasim to the nuclear programme, from unprecedented foreign investment to 3200 MW power-contracts, from Ghazi Barotha to a massive primary health and education programme, from neutralizing extremism to restoring peace in Karachi, etc. The Pakistan Peoples Party is the only party to have won all the four fair elections held since 1970.
The 58-2(b) regime of Leghari-led caretakers has backfired on its farcical plank of accountability and has established beyond doubt that fair and free elections are not possible under its anti-PPP stewardship. In fact, the November 5 Dissolution Order has set in motion a colossal crisis in Pakistan's history which has put the democratic system, security of the nation, economy and the future of the Federation in jeopardy. But the democratic forces led by the PPP and the people of Pakistan will again foil all attempts at subverting the federal parliamentary system, mortgaging national interests, subjugating civil society to selective injustice in the name of some other version of the "Law of Necessity' or another hijacking of the people's mandate.
The nation must say "STOP" to this. The nation must reject Leghari's hung parliament blue print to save the country from political, financial and moral collapse. It is no secret that a hung parliament leads to horse trading, bribery, corruption and blackmail. If there is a hung parliament, frustration will deepen and extremist forces will take advantage of it. It is a prescription for national disaster. National interest calls for the Pakistan Peoples Party to be elected with a sweeping majority to serve the people in Pakistan's Golden Jubilee year..
Once again, we shall overcome and be vindicated by history with the support of the people and the grace of God Almighty.
It is with this sense of history and responsibility that the Pakistan Peoples Party places before the people its Manifesto for the 1997 elections and calls on the people of Pakistan to

"Follow the Arrow Into The Asian Century"

CHAPTER 1- GOVERNMENT

The Pakistan Peoples Party since its inception has struggled for the establishment of a democratic polity and the creation and protection of democratic institutions, the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. The Party has remained in the forefront in the struggle against dictatorship and any change from the present federal parliamentary structure of the Constitution.
The Peoples Government conscious of the concern of the people of Pakistan to the issue of public accountability, besides allowing the press full freedom to agitate and report issues of public concern, firstly placed before the public a list of major loan defaulters and subsequently introduced its Accountability Bill in Parliament for removing the constitutional immunity of the President, Prime Minister, Governors and other high constitutional and government functionaries Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto offered herself for accountability under the Bill. It perhaps not unrelated that within weeks of producing the list of defaulters and the presentation of the Accountability Bill the Peoples Government was removed from office.

A. SOME MAJOR LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS 1993-96

During its tenure of office from October, 1993 to November 1996, the Peoples Government pursuant to its economic, social and welfare commitments to the people of Pakistan started a legislative programme which attacked a number of fundamental problems facing society. The Peoples Government also fully implemented the March 20 Supreme Court judgment. Some of the major pieces of legislation were:

The State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Act, 1994 which gave greater autonomy to the State Bank of Pakistan;

The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, 1994 which made drug laws more stringent and introduced the death penalty for serious drug offences;

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Act, 1994 which gave greater protection to women accused of crimes from coercive police actions;

The Islamabad Consumers Protection Act, 1995 which for the first time in Pakistan provided a law to protect consumers;

The Abolition of the Punishment of Whipping Act, 1996 which outlawed all punishments of whipping except in cases covered under Islamic law;

The West Pakistan Family Courts (Amendment) Act, 1994 and the Family Courts (Amendment) Act, 1996 which provided speedier justice to women in family matters;
The Special Courts for Speedy Trial (Repeal) Act, 1996 which finally did away with courts providing "martial law" justice.

The Women in Distress or Detention Fund Act, 1996 which for the first time provided funds and legal aid to women in distress or under arrest;

Environmental protection Act, 1996 which established the Environment Protection Agency and provided for setting and monitoring environmental standards.

In all 45 Acts were passed in addition to three Finance Acts during the Peoples Government tenure.

SEPARATION OF THE EXECUTIVE AND THE JUDICIARY

The Law Reforms Ordinance, 1996 which implemented Article 175 of the Constitution and finally separated of the judiciary fro the executive. The said Ordinance was promulgated on 27th of March 1996 and passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan within two weeks. The said Ordinance is presently awaiting approval from the Senate.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

The first bill to be moved in the National Assembly of Pakistan by the Peoples Government was the Constitution (13th Amendment) Bill 1994 which sorught to restore women seats in the National Assembly and also provided special seats for women in the Senate of Pakistan. The said Bill could not be enacted as the PML-N opposition refused to support the same and the thus the required a 2/3rd majority was not available.

The Peoples Government maintained its principled stand on the 8th Amendment. As in the case of the Constitution (13th Amendment) Bill there was no support for the repeal of the 8th Amendment from PML-N.

B. MAJOR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 1997-2002

The Peoples Government will take steps to:

Repeal the 8th Amendment;

Restore womens reserved seats and provide for reserved seats for women in the Senate;

Appoint an independent Election Commissioner with participation of the opposition;
Ensure across board accountability with Parliament as the fountainhead;

Increase in the number of national and provincial assembly seats;

Provide for census under the supervision of the judiciary;

Provide for a certain percentage of seats in the national and provincial assemblies on proportional representation basis;

A four year term for the President, Prime Minister and Parliament and five year term for Senators;

Judicial reform for quick justice including allocation of sufficient funds from court fees to ensure adequate funding for the judiciary;

The Peoples Government also pledges itself to carry out wide-ranging electoral form to ensure fair and transparent elections and also introduce a new local bodies law with core subjects for local government; this law will provide strict curbs on non-development expenditure.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Protection of human rights continued to be high on the Peoples Government Agenda. To monitor the human rights situation in the country a Human Rights Cell was established in the Federal Government to monitor human rights, to ensure arrests and prosecution of the human offenders and to provide relief and redress to victims.

Realizing the magnitude of the problems especially in regard to child and bonded labour, domestic violence, sex discrimination and abuses by law enforcing agencies the Peoples Government of Pakistan converted the Human Rights Cell in separate Ministry of Human Rights. Pakistan is perhaps be one of the few countries in the world , if not the only, to have a separate Ministry of Human Rights.

In addition a Tribunal headed by a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan was established as an independent body for Disadvantaged Persons.

VIP CULTURE

As a party of the people the Peoples Party abhors both the concept and practice of "VIP culture". The people should however, realise that the greatest exhibition of VIP culture is the use and exercise of the power of the state without accountability to the people. The Caretakers are the greatest exponents of this culture and are enjoying the benefits and salaries paid for by the citizens of Pakistan. They are, however, in no way accountable to the people. The Pakistan Peoples Party believes that the establishment and enforcement of democratic traditions where the President, Governors, Prime Minister and Ministers, Parliamentarians, Judges and other high officials are accountable to the people through free and fair elections or the application of laws to them in an equal manner, offers the best way of dealing with the problem. Cosmetic tinkering as done by the Caretakers will not in any way end real "VIP Culture".

The Peoples Government vows to take steps to ensure that VIP behaviour is suppressed. The conspicuous elements of this culture and behaviour will be curtailed.

CHAPTER 2 - THE ECONOMY


The Review of last Peoples Government's Economic Performance

The Peoples Government assumed power in October, 1993 at a time when the country, in the words of the then non partisan Caretaker Prime Minister, was at the verge of a financial collapse. To avert this possibility, the Caretaker Government had signed an extremely tough economic program with IMF which conditioned the economic policy of the new Government throughout its tenure. The Peoples Government accepted the program the principal in the larger national interest as otherwise the position of country's reserves was so perilously low, at less than $ 300 million, and a run on the foreign currency accounts would have resulted in bankruptcy of the country. However, the Peoples Party retained with itself the flexibility to implement the program in a manner which was least harmful or damaging to the people of Pakistan.

The Peoples Government's economic policy revolved around two main elements. First, restoration of country's macro-economic framework i.e. reduction in budget deficit, control of money supply, stabilization in balance of payments and stemming of inflationary pressures. Second, building of nation's highly debilitated physical infrastructure and human resource base which had emerged as the single most important factor limiting the growth potential of the economy. The restoration of macro framework was a prerequisite for revival of growth in the economy whereas acceleration in the rate of growth was only possible through a major program of expansion of physical infrastructure. Thus the two elements of economic policy were designed to lay a foundation of a major revival of economic activity in the country and to push the standard of living of the common man.

Notwithstanding inheriting a run down economy, the Peoples Government faced boldly the challenging task of macroeconomics stabilisation and structural reforms. The process made under the Peoples Government has to be viewed in the context of performance during the full three years of its tenure. In important sectors of the economy, there was significant progressive transformation, even though in some areas, the performance fell short of the ambitious targets that the Government had set for itself. These achievements, led according to the IMF report on Pakistan's economy for 1995/96 to a growth rate of over 6% and restoration of the rate of economic growth from the low point of 2.4% reached in 92-93 , reduction in inflation, massive increase in foreign investment, reduction in the trade gap, reduction in the debt as percentage of GDP and improvement in the balance of payments, a substantial reduction in fiscal deficits, implementation of basic reforms in tax structure, extension of sales tax, lowering of import tariff from 110% to 55% , first ever imposition of wealth tax on agriculture. There was impressive progress in enlarging the scope of the private sector and large scale and diverse program of privatization was successfully accomplished, along with deregulation of sanctioning procedures and prices. The substantial improvement in the external position succeeded in attracting a record inflow of foreign investment. During the three years of Peoples Government , there was accelerated investment both in infrastructure as well as grassroots projects in the social field and in population planning.

The Peoples Government undertook the enormous task of readjustment to a dramatically changed and worsened scenario of external resource availability. US aid had ceased after Soviet exit from Afghanistan, workers remittances have declined sharply, and donor assistance had stagnated. The country had then increasingly to rely on capital markets and foreign private investment. Consequently the Peoples Government designed innovative policies to attract private sector investment, both local and foreign, for the development of much needed infrastructure projects. The challenge before Pakistan, which the Peoples Government has been responding to, is that we must not flinch from taking essential and sometimes unpopular measures for sustaining the economy. However, these measures have to be implemented within a democratic framework, with sovereign legislatures, a free press and an independent judiciary.

Notwithstanding is successes, the performance of the economy in the last few months of the Peoples Government, came under severe pressure from the organised efforts of politically hostile groups, to sabotage the economy, as a means of ousting the Peoples Government, before the expiry of its lawful term. Apart from strikes and no tax campaigns, there was a mischievous effort to destroy the credibility of the Government (and the country) with foreign investors and international institutions. Despite the dislocation suffered by the economy, from the activities of these saboteurs, the Peoples Government was able to maintain adequate reserves, to meet international obligations and had, in fact concluded a new agreement with the IMF toward the end of October 96. The strategy of economic disruption having failed, the opponents and the Caretakers are already discovering the high price that the country has to pay for eroding external confidence in the country's integrity and its economy.

A. MAJOR ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS 1993-96

· Increased GDP growth rate from 2.4% per annum in 1993 to 6.1% per annum in 1996.

· Reduced budget deficit from 9.5% of GDP to less than 6% of GDP and successfully negotiated waivers from IMF for faster deficit reductions. This allowed the Peoples Government to introduce far ranging social programmes in the health and education sectors, to provide employment to hundreds of thousands and to ensure that increases in utilities and other user prices are kept to a minimum. The target in 1996-97 was 4.7%;

· Reduced non-development expenditure as a % of GDP allowing the Government to increase allocations to the social sectors;

· Increased the education budget to 300 % above that in October 1993;

· Increased the health budget by 65 % above that in October 1993;

· Electrified 18,000 towns and villages at a rate five times that of the PML-N Government;

· Provided gas connections to over 1.5 million consumers in cities, towns and villages;

· Provided employment to hundreds of thousands of people;

· Increased foreign exchange reserves to $2.4 billion in June 1996. When the Peoples Government was unconstitutionally removed on November 5, 1996, these foreign exchange reserves were still double those left by the PML-N Government;

· Lowered tariffs to 55%;

· Defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP declined;

· Obtained firm contractual commitment of US$ 8 billion private investment in the fields of power, petroleum and chemicals with over US$ 3 billion being received in Pakistan from 1993;

· Announced and implemented a Power Policy ending 15 years of load-shedding. An independent assessment made by a high level mission of international lending institution has indicated that Pakistan's energy sector policy has led to investment commitments of more than $ 6 billion which is more than the combined investment attracted by Eastern European countries since demise of the Soviet Union or by China in its energy sector in the same period. This is a clear testimony to the success of the policies adopted by the Peoples Government, which laid the foundation of a solid economic revival in the country;

· Announced and implemented a Petroleum Policy which in 3 years from 1993 led to the signing of 50 agreements with national and international companies as against only three agreements in 1992-93 for the exploration for oil and gas in Pakistan involving investment of over $581 million. When the Peoples Government was removed an additional 29 agreements were pending signing involving direct risk investment of over $ 126 million in Pakistan;

· Announced and started implementing Big City Packages costing Rs.150 billion;

· Built 300,000 low cost residences for workers providing shelter to over 1 million people;

· Carried out a successful privatization programme which was acknowledged worldwide as being fair and transparent. The Government even letters of appreciation as to the transparency of the process even from unsuccessful firms;

· Reduced growth in money supply from an average of 20% during the period of PML-N Government to less than 15%;

· Expanded the tax base through the introduction of General Sales Tax which led to an increase in tax receipts from Rs.160 billion to Rs. 267 billion, representing a positive increase in the tax to GDP ratio;

· Imposed for the first time in country's history, agriculture wealth tax and pursuaded the provinces to levy agriculture income tax.

Notwithstanding the successes, areas where the Peoples Governments performance fell short of the target was the behavior of prices and the ratio of debt servicing. The unusually high monetary growth of the Nawaz regime continued to exert its influence on prices through lagged response. The international prices of some essential food items,

such as edible oil also contributed to higher prices. However, as the latest IMF report on Pakistan's economy shows the rate of inflation had stabilized and had started to come down when the Peoples Government was dismissed. The recent increase in prices as a result of the Caretakers reckless decisions show that the Peoples Government acted as the dam against lender conditionalities. The debt servicing ratio increased due to the accumulation of past debt.

B. ECONOMIC AGENDA 1997-2002

· The Peoples Government will complete its programmes disrupted by the dissolution and ensure that the nation reaps the benefits of those policies. The following will constitute the core elements of the Peoples Government economic policy:

· Increase tax revenues by a vigorous pursuit of tax evaders and a search for undeclared assets abroad. The tax system will be streamlined and the number of tax payers increased. There will also be a vigorous pursuit of cases in the courts system where billions of rupees are held up;

· Decrease tax rates levels thereby encouraging more people to pay taxes. The first reduction will be in the 1997 budget. This will include an increase in the base income of salaried and professionals exempted from tax to give them some relief from the vagaries of inflation;

· Maintain a stable macro-economic framework by keeping a low budget deficit, a prudent expansion in money supply, equilibrium in balance of payments and stability in prices. In an economy that crucially depends on inflow of private foreign capital, a stable macro framework is a pre-condition to inspiring confidence among foreign investors to lead to more job creation and more growth;

· Promote investment will be the key for achieving an accelerated rate of economic growth. Policies along the lines of energy and petroleum policies will be designed for sectors, like communications, highways, ports and shipping etc. and those sectors using indigenous resources;

· Promote the acceleration of oil and gas exploration to ensure mamimisation of indigenous energy resources;

· Accelerate the process of deregulation. They key areas of reforms would include further liberalization of financial sector giving greater autonomy to banks and other financial institutions before and after privatization in their operations, greater role of market forces in determination of exchange rates, removal of restrictions on the operations of capital markets and mobilization of resources, greater and easier access of private sector to foreign exchange resources;

· The process of privatization will be accelerated by early disposal of those infrastructure units where the financial advisors have completed their work. The role of capital markets in the process will be enhanced by placing significant portions of these shares in the capital markets;

· Grass root changes in banks and financial institutions will be instituted. Except for National Bank of Pakistan all banks will be privatised, with full security of employment to employees;

· An infrastructure development bank will be established as part of the public-private partnership. The bank would be devoted will be majority owned by the public sector for financing the infrastructure projects;

· An export development bank will be established which would be devoted for the financing exportables from Pakistan. The resources for the bank would be met from the export financing scheme of the SBP and diversion of resources from other uses which would be significantly curtailed after the privatization of DFIs;

· Recovery of stuck up financial resources shall receive top priority. Advances and any rescheduling shall be closely monitored to ensure against abuse;

· Service perks of government servants will be gradually discontinued and replaced with higher cash in hand emoluments.

· The Peoples Government also plans to initiate some new revolutionary economic programs in the country. Salient features of these programs are given below:-
Social Safety Net

· Poverty alleviation and welfare of the most vulnerable segments of population will be accorded top priority in the new economic program of the Peoples Government. The resources of Zakat, Ushr, Baitul Maal, Old Age Benefit Scheme and other welfare oriented sources would be extended and the coverage of population significantly expanded. The coverage of pension would be expanded to almost all workers. The international donor agencies would be approached to support the social safety net programs of the Government in view of the structural reforms being undertaken by the country. Examples of such support and their success in insulating the poor from the adverse effects of structural adjustments is now well known.

· As part of this programme the Peoples Government will provide large number of 60 sq.m. area plots for housing. The owners can collectively take up development on the OPP or Khuda Basti models. The idea is to effectively eliminate the land-grabber, on which the poor have to depend on their housing needs. "A plot for every family " is the ultimate objective

Debt Crisis and its Solution


· The most important economic problem facing the nation is the staggering public debt which has reached a figure of Rs.1,400 billion at the end of 1995-96. Fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies are now a hostage to this pivotal problem of the economic management. An increasingly high proportion of current expenditure is devoted to the debt-servicing both domestic and foreign. In the budget 1996-97 almost Rs.200 billion would be spent under this head, whereas the interest payments alone have surpassed defence spending.

· The debt crisis is the legacy of martial law regime which, having squandered foreign aid and failed to impose taxes at the right moment and ruthlessly borrowed to perpetuate its unconstitutional rule. Subsequent Governments did not have enough courage to face the problem and added their bit to the accentuation of the problem. The last Peoples Government took the radical step of using the privatization proceeds for retirement of public debt.

· The Peoples Government undertakes to frontally attack the problem of public debt management through the following elements:

· all proceeds from privatization of public sector units, especially infrastructure projects, will be used exclusively for the retirement of public debt;

· internationally all accepted methods of debt retirement, such as debt-equity swaps, debt conversation, debt sell-off and transfer etc. would be allowed for early disposal of public assets and consequent retirement of debt;

· depending on the circumstances, the Government would not hesitate in requiring its creditors, both local and foreign, to enter in negotiation for debt rescheduling and restructuring with a view to seeking relief from mounting and unbearable debt servicing burden; such occasionals have occurred in the case of other developing countries who have successively re-negotiated their debt;

· a policy will be adopted to gradually liberalize the capital account of the balance of payment, thereby passing on the exchange liabilities to the private sector;

· public sector investments will be primarily restricted in social sectors or such economic sectors where commercial yields are marginal but have large social returns. This would release borrowing pressures on the Government;
· budget deficit would be cut basically by cutting non-development expenditure and effecting savings in implementation of development schemes.

CHAPTER 3 - AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

A. MAJOR AGRICULTURE ACHIEVEMENTS 1993-1996

Given the predominantly agrarian structure of Pakistan's economy, no significant economic growth can be achieved without the commensurate contribution from the agriculture sector. The Peoples Government therefore places strong emphasis on agricultural growth and that was why there was a resurgence of agricultural growth under the Peoples Government as compared with agricultural growth under the Nawaz Government. The Peoples Government had the following successes:

· There was a handsome positive agriculture growth rate of over 6% per annum in the period as against a negative 15% growth rate in 1992-93 when the Peoples Government took office;

· In calamity affected areas, relief to small farmers was given on production loans and interest on production loans were waived during 1995-96;

· An amount of Rs.15 billion was disbursed as credit to farmers through ADBP in 1995-96 as compared to about Rs.10 billion in 1992-93, an increase of 50%;

· Kisan banking window operations were established at 356 branches of ADBP to provide credit to small farmers. Rs.4.53,925.36 million was disbursed through this scheme during 1995-96;

· Under Awami Tractor Scheme, 20,000 tractors were provided to farmers at subsidized rate during 1995-96.

· Seed business was declared an industry to boast seed production and incentives like exemption of custom duty on import of vegetable seeds, duty free import of inbred lines for production of hybrid seeds and reduction in import duty of seed processing machinery and seed testing laboratory equipment were granted.

· Support prices of important agricultural commodities were increased in 1995-96 to provide incentive to farmers for increasing production.

B. AGRICULTURE AGENDA 1997-2002

Apart from the vagaries of the weather, our agriculture is beset by the problems of poor untimely water supplies of contaminated pesticides, non-availability of adequate and timely credit, inadequate infrastructure for farm to market access and extremely poor yields of major crops. Unless a grass root program for alleviation these ills is launched there is no hope for exploiting the fullest potential of country's agriculture sector. The Peoples Government will adopt an agricultural policy to fundamentally restructure the agriculture sector comprising:

· A grass root program for construction of lined water courses and canals, development of new canals and rehabilitation of the existing canal system to improve water supplies and effect economy in water use;

· Expeditiously complete large schemes to create a comprehensive drainage system in the country and its extension with a top-to-bottom approach;

· Introduction of new laws providing severe punishments alongwith an efficient enforcement machinery to check the widespread contamination of pesticides, fertilizer and other agriculture inputs;

· Ensure greater allocation of credit from ADBP for production activities on a timely basis by strengthening the Kissan window, greater provision of credit from SBP, adequate availability of credit for financing of agriculture implements including tractors;

· Allow prices of all agriculture crops to be freely determined by market forces; there will be no indirect taxation of agriculture sector by paying less than local market or international prices;

· Strengthen agriculture research institutions through provisions of greater resources for the purpose of studying the ways for improving yields of all major crops;

· Establish a massive net-work of farm-to-market roads to improve the access of farmer to the market thereby enabling him to get timely access and better prices from the market;

· Treat the agricultural sector at par with the industrial sector;

· Policy incentives to be provided to promote agro-industry in the rural areas to encourage demand led growth and to provide employment opportunities in the rural areas;

· Spend a percentage of agricultural income tax in the District from where taxes have been collected. This would mobilize resource collection and encourage the agricultural sector to contribute in to the national exchanger;

· Promote corporate farming to attract national and foreign investment into the agricultural sector;

· Provide incentives to promote the livestock sector, so that organised livestock farms to be promoted to meet the milk and meat requirements of the country;

· Initiate incentives and policies to promote exports of high-value agriculture goods like fruit, flowers and vegetables;

· Introduce crop insurance;
· Ensure timely payments to farmers who suffer from delayed recoveries of payments for their products;

· Issue title deeds for agriculture lands so that the farmers 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;

· Develop an oilseed development plan to provide an additional boost to minimise dependence on imported oils;

· Pursue land reform and distribute Government land among the landless.

CHAPTER 4 - HEALTH

The Peoples Government placed special emphasis on health, education and population planning under its Social Action Programme. These programmes were designed to improve the human resource situation in the country and bring services to the peoples doorstep.

A. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE HEALTH SECTOR 1993-96

· There was a seven fold increase in Health Budget from 1993 to 1996. 60% of allocation earmarked for Primary Health Care (PHC) Programmes;

· Programme instituted for training and development of 100,000 Lady Health Workers (LHW) to deliver PHC, mother & child care, immunization, free medicines, family planning guidance & services health education, pre & post natal care through a direct village & mohalla based approach. By November 1996 50,000 LHW's had been trained and were serving in the field to provide access to the under-served areas. This was Pakistan's largest-ever women employment program [introduced by non-other than the world's first women Prime Minister];

· National anti-polio drive started and in three years immunized millions of children. Pakistan is now on its way of being polio free by year 2000;

· Medical education reform - 4 major medical colleges (one in each Province) started community:

· Oriented medical education to respond to the real health needs of the masses and the epidemiological trends;

· Inclusion of family planning and primary health care was made compulsory in all medical college courses and in the secondary school curriculum;

· Greater autonomy was given to medical colleges for defining curriculum. Admissions were based on national testing service so as to ensure fairness and integrity of exams, and to establish national standards;

· Self-financing fee plan introduced, based on the principle that those who can afford to should pay, scholarships to be provided for needy students, self-financing fee plan enhances income for the medical colleges;

· Higher qualification standards established by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council in line with modern medical education requirements in the developed countries;

· To reduce incidence of goiter, cretinism, mal-formation and mental retardation, a large scale iodination of salt campaign was launched. 1.5 million persons were given iodized oil therapy. 13,580 tons of iodized salt was distributed. 26% of all salt in Pakistan was iodized;

· There was a strengthening of health management information systems to provide up-dated, reliable and accurate data on health for policy formulation, programme design and realistic planning;

· Policy framework and incentives were announced to promote private sector investment in the health services, specially in the tertiary area so that Government resources can be increasingly ear-marked for promotive and preventive health care for the poor, specially the rural poor;

· There was a quantum increases in the nurses training programmes, up-gradation of nurse's posts, increase in the salary of nurse's and their status;

· Aggressive public awareness programmes were launched to disseminate information about AIDS, nutrition, malaria, healthy life-style, anti-smoking, mother and child care tuberculosis control, family planning and primary health care;

· Low-cost medicine were made available through the People's pharmacies located within the hospital premises to provide 24 hours service. Availability of essential drugs at 15% lower than market rates;

· Policies were launched for involvement of the community in planning, management,
partial-financing, and monitoring of public health services through village committees;
· Total eradication of guinea worm from Pakistan was achieved in 1996;

· Burn units established. One in each major provincial hospital;

· Human resource development in the health sector with a focus on clinical, laboratory & radiology technicians training for lady health visitors, school health visitors, traditional birth attendants, nutritionists, hospital administration was started;

· For first time policies were formulated on essential drugs, vaccine and drug quality assurance, drug pricing, rational drug use and basic manufacture.

B. HEALTH AGENDA FOR 1997-2002

· Enhance Health Budget to 3.5% of GDP by 2002;

· Continue all health initiatives started by Peoples' Government from 1993-1996 according to Health Policy priorities;

· Prepare and implement programmes to expand primary health care coverage so that every citizen is covered by 2005 through the Basic Health Units (BHUS), Dispensaries,

Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), LHWs, district and city hospitals;
· Rationalize health manpower needs by training more health service providers, nurses, para-medics country doctors, technologists, nutritionists, school health visitors, hospital administrators;

· Promote private-sector investment in basic manufacturing and development of raw materials and the indigenous pharmaceutical industry. Specially promote national manufacture of essential drugs;

· Promote operational research, management, increase institutional capacity for research;

· Develop a private sector managed health care insurance for government employees. Promote health insurance for private citizens;

· Ensure clean drinking water for all by 2002;

· Ban medical treatment overseas at government expense for parliamentarians and government servants;

· Make Pakistan polio-free by 2000;

· Ensure by 1998 100,000 LHWs are trained and providing services in the field. Train an additional 50,000 LHW's by 2000;

· Launch a national campaign against measles, whooping cough and tetanus;

· Prepare rationalized policy for future requirement of doctors and other health service providers;

· Achieve universal salt iodination by 2002;

· Incentives for private sector investment in tertiary care i.e. highly specialized hospitals for heart, kidney & cancer;

· Ensure all major city hospitals to have burn units by 2002. District Hospitals by 2010;
· Actively promote women's jobs in Health Sector;

· Establish an autonomous board for drug registration and pricing with complete transparent procedures;

· Promote generic medicine to provide cheaper medicines.

CHAPTER 5 - EDUCATION


A. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR 1993-96

· Increased the education budget 300% from 1993 to 1996 (from Rs.13.790 billion to Rs.42.247 billion). In GDP terms the education budget was increased from 1.9% of GDP in 1993 to 2.52% in 1996;

· Primary education and literacy received 65% of the total education allocation, with the largest share going into girls primary education;

· Focus shifted from tertiary to basic education for all and from general to vocational and technical education, from urban secondary to rural primary and to girls education;

· Legislation passed for compulsory primary education to ensure EFA by all 4 Provinces. Federal legislation on the anvil;

· National and Provincial Education Foundations made operative for promoting public - private partnerships for establishing schools, specially for girls;

· Curriculum revised to include environment, health, population studies, drug abuse education, ethics and character building. New integrated curriculum introduced for primary classes. English made compulsory from primary school. History textbooks corrected for distortions and in-accuracies. Pakistan's ideology as defined by Quad-e-Azam included as the foundation course for all students;

· National Education Testing services introduced for standardized testing for entrance to professional colleges i.e. medical and engineering and for universities;

· Four private sector universities approved;

· Computer literacy centres established;

· Rs.400 million allocated for vocational education to promote skills training for secondary school students;

· Teacher training programmes through open university increased resulting in 15,000 teachers being produced per annum in 1993 to 45,000 in 1996. 20 new vocational courses introduced;

· Literacy rate increased from 35% in 1993 to 38% in 1996. Literacy target set at 70% by year 2000. Primary enrollment increased from 13.5 million to 15.5 million in 1996. Enrollment target set for 24 million by 2002. Participation rate increased from 66% in 1993 to 73% in 1996. Target set for 90% by 2002;

· Multiple Textbook Policy adopted to encourage private sector to compete with Government Textbook Boards, for better quality textbooks;

· 6,500 teachers providing literacy through the home-school program in collaboration with NGO's by 1996 ;

· Self-financing fee plan for students who can afford to pay. This additional income will be generated for universities and colleges to ease the budget deficit situation of the higher education sector;

· Major administrative and financial restructuring of the universities to make them financially self-reliant over a phased period of 8 years.

B. EDUCATION AGENDA 1997-2002 ONWARDS

Reaffirming that the right to education is fundamental human right, the Peoples Party pledges to:

· Increase allocation to education to 3.0 of GDP by 2000 sector to 4.5% of GDP by 2005;

· Achieve universalization of basic education and 85% literacy by 2005;

· Ensure secondary and tertiary education to be employment and productivity oriented;

· Improve quality inputs i.e. teacher training, curriculum, computers, textbooks, testing and evaluation;

· Emphasize computer, technical, vocational education and English for improving employability of school and college graduates;

· Carry out major reform of teacher training curriculum based on modern scientific pedagogical research, emphasis on science and vocational education;

· Provide incentives to the private sector for establishing vocational and technical training institutes, professional college and universities;

· Ensure admissions to higher level institutions to be made on merit;

· Devolve authority to district level and to communities for repair, maintenance and monitoring of school facilities;

· Introduce new technology subjects such as genetic engineering, bio-genetics,
information - technology, robotics, management system, fibre-optics;

· Revamp the examination system by establishing Independent Examination Boards in the public and private sector;

· Provide autonomy to all nationalized colleges;

· Denationalize all missionary schools & colleges protecting the rights of all teachers in the same way as worker in the privatized industries;

· Prime Minister's literacy commission to set up 20,000 literacy centres by 2002 through home-based schools;

· Provide administrative & financial autonomy to all public-sector universities and formal institutional linkages with trade, industry, agriculture and finance sectors;

· Introduce scholarships based on need and merit for poor students;

· Recognize and promote private sector role in education;

· Enhance teacher's status through highest level awards, high public office, increase salaries and up-grade of posts;

Introduce exchanges and split degree programmes with prestigious and well-renowned foreign universities.

CHAPTER 6 - EMPLOYMENT

A. EMPLOYMENT ACHIEVEMENTS 1993-96

Recognizing unemployment as one a major national problem the Peoples' Government adopted a four phased approach towards the problem:

1. Employment through the Public Sector:

The Peoples Government is not apologetic in any way for employing hundreds of thousands of young men and women in the public sector. While the Peoples Party expects that over the course of time the focus of job creation be in the private sector it was, in view of the existing economic realities, unwilling to allow the youth of Pakistan to be left in despair and poverty, thereby leading to social conflicts, rising crime and probable public disorder. Therefore, the Peoples Government took the bold step of using the public sector to take the slack in the creation of employment opportunities, although this made it more difficult for the Peoples Government to meet some of the commitments made by the Caretaker Government of Mr. Moin Qureshi to international agencies viz. budget deficits. The Peoples Party rejects the allegations that political favouritism or corruption was employed in granting employment.

Those employed made a significant contribution to the country's social well being. For instance hundreds of thousands were employed in various government departments and agencies, 50,000 young women were employed as Lady Health Workers with another 45,000 under training. Thousands of teachers were appointed under the Peoples Government aggressive programme to wipe out illiteracy.

2. Employment through the private sector especially through foreign investment:

Foreign investment increased by $ 3 billion in the three years under the Peoples Government. This led to a large increase in the number of employed in the private sector. Major construction activity in the areas of power plants, pipelines and other infrastructural projects meant that a large number of people were gainfully employed during the period 1993-6. With major infrastructural projects and major private investment in the power, petroleum and chemical industries under implementation or sanctioned by the Peoples Government the serious problem of unemployment would have eased further in the next few years. The Peoples Government ensured that as part of the privatization process the employment of workers was fully protected with no terminations allowed except for misconduct. The labour agreement negotiated with the WAPDA union during the privatization of the Kot Addu Power station has been hailed as a perfect example for protecting labour rights in a privatization programme. The ever increasing number of vacancies being advertised in the newspapers for employment in the private sector are proof of the Peoples Government's policies were succeeding in easing the problems of unemployment.

3. Special programme for training in technical trades and domestic services:

The Peoples' Government started the Special Programme for Training in Technical Trades and Domestic Services aimed at reducing un-employment, meeting the skilled workers requirements of the industries/employment market, assisting in self-employment and facilitating export of manpower. The programme envisaged training of about 50,000 workers in 24 different technical trades and occupations. The scheme launched in March 1994 was funded by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) by generating financial resources through enhancement of service charges by September 1996. 22,500 trainees have already completed different training courses while 5,500 were presently undergoing training. An amount of Rs.210 million was made available to finance the programme during 1995-96. Continuity in the programme would have undoubtedly benefited the labour market to help solve, the problem of un-employment. The dismissal of the Peoples' Government has thrown this important problem into cold-storage and deprived thousands of men and women the chance for skill-training and livelihood.

4. Employment through self employment:

The Peoples Government under the Small Businesses and YIPS programmes over 150,000 young and deserving persons were provided financial assistance to start businesses and create self employment.

5. Employment through export of labour:

The Peoples' Government implemented an aggressive policy to export manpower and had high level meetings in this regard with a number of brotherly and friendly states. In 1996 alone over 120,000 people found employment abroad.

B. EMPLOYMENT AGENDA FOR 1997-2002

The Peoples Party categorically reject the Caretakers policies of terminating hundreds of thousands of government employees and employees of banks/DFIs/semi autonomous bodies the Peoples Party condemns the decision of PML-N and other political parties to accept the Caretakers decision in this regard.

The Peoples Government will continue its policy for maximum employment through infrastructural development, private sector investment, training, employment through self-employment schemes and export of labour. The Peoples Government will place a high priority in creating employment opportunities.

CHAPTER 7 - LABOUR

The Pakistan Peoples Party has always stood at the forefront of labour's struggle for the protection of their rights and their economic well being. The Government has a critical role to play in ensuring that the labour class is not exploited and that it receives its due rights and position in society. The Peoples Government in the seventies framed basic laws which to date still provide vital rights to the labour class.

The labour laws need some essential changes to meet the requirements of an entirely different labour-industrial environment than the one that existed thirty years ago. The goal at which the Peoples Government will provide a basis for improved labour-industrial relations, greater job and financial security to workers both during and after employment.

The scope of labour laws will be gradually expanded to include agricultural labourers and the present legal system for adjudication legal disputes will be remodeled and revitalised to ensure both labour and industry's rights are protected.

A. ACHIEVEMENTS IN LABOUR 1993-1996


1. TASK FORCE ON SOCIAL SECURITY

The Peoples' Government giving high priority to welfare of labour, set-up the Task Force on Social Security to examine the Employees Old Age Benefits Act, 1976 and other labour laws to firm up various recommendations in regard to old age pension scheme, social security scheme and workers welfare scheme and various decisions taken. These could not be implemented due to the dismissal of the Peoples Government.

2. HOUSES FOR WORKERS

In order to provide housing facilities to the industrial workers, the government launched a programme for massive construction of labour colonies in the four provinces. Initially Rs.1 billion were allocated for this purpose from the Workers Welfare Fund. The programme was in addition to the regular programmes undertaken by the Provincial Governments with the Federal Government's additional finances to provide law cost houses to the workers. The programme envisaged construction of low cost houses and development of residential plots for allotment to workers on easy installments. Work on 7 schemes was in progress while another 14 were in the planning stage when the Peoples Government was dismissed. Under the Workers Welfare Fund, a large scale scheme to provide land for labour had also been finalized. These schemes scheduled to be completed by 1998 would have benefitted over one million workers and their families. The Peoples Government undertake to implement and expedite the scheme.

B. LABOUR AGENDA 1997-2002

· A new pension scheme will be formulated for labour extending coverage and the quantum of pension in the existing scheme Rs.425 to Rs.700 per month. Under the new pension scheme, coverage will be extended from the present 100,000 workers to 7 million by the year 2010. The Peoples Government will provide a fixed annual amount of Rs.1 billion to the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) for implementation of the scheme;

· A new National Pension Scheme would be launched and all workers, and self-employed persons would be eligible to join the a new scheme;

· Workers will be covered by the Peoples Government social safety net;

· The Peoples Government will increase the number of housing schemes for workers and provide shelter to over one and a half million workers and their families by the year 2002.

· Contract labour shall be abolished and minimum wages will be increased keeping inflation in view;

· Workers shall be provided with an effective safety net for health care, education for their children and with old age pensions;

· Health insurance cover will be provided to meet major health emergencies;

· Funds from the Worker's Welfare Fund will be spent strictly for the sole benefit the workers and with the consultation of the worker's representatives;

· Major labour intensive public works programmes will be undertaken to combat un-employment and build infrastructure;

· Ex-employees of closed industries will be given the option to run those industries together with financial institutions on a "own as you pay" basis". Those industries which the employees refuse to run will be liquidated, so that recoverable financial resources, land and human resources can be reinvested in profitable ventures.

CHAPTER 8 - WOMEN


A. WOMEN'S RIGHTS & DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS 1993-1996

1. Strengthening of Institutional Framework.

· Strengthened the Ministry of Women Development and Youth Affairs;

· Set up of Women Development Department in the Provinces;

· Made women issues a focal point in all Federal Ministries and provincial departments.

2. Shifting of emphasis from welfare oriented development to skill development.

· During the last two years (98 in the Public Sector & 185 in the Private Sector);

· The Ministry of Women Development funded 283 women development projects establishment of 40 computer training centres under the umbrella project;

· Expended the operation and branches of First Women Bank established in 1989 (33 branches by the Peoples Government all over Pakistan);

· Regional Development Training Institute established in March, 1995. Courses in banking, computers, entrepreneurship started;

3. First of Its kind in South Asia:


National Training & Resource Centre for Women in Development Islamabad, Rs. 420.83 million approved.

4. Law, Security & Health


· For the first time induced of women officers in the police service of Pakistan;
· Strengthened the women police force;

· Acquired land in four provinces for modern prisons for women;

· Established a network of women police stations in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Abbottabad and Saidu Sharif;

· Established Commission of Inquiry for Women (October 1994) to review all the existing laws which are discriminatory to women or effect their rights as equal citizens;

· Signed the United Nation Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women in August, 1995;

· Appointed women judges in three of four of the country's High Courts;

· Introduced Rural Health Programme. 100,000 females will be trained as Primary Health Workers to provide maternal Health Care, Child nutrition and population planning services;

· Established burns wards in major hospitals in each Province to especially deal with cases of home accidents and domestic violence. Supported Global Commission on Women's Health Pakistan (WHO) (Pakistan Chapter);

· Co-ordinated Population Planning Programme "From state and Seminar to Home & Hearth";

· Started Medical Technical Assistants Training Programme for Girls (MTA) in selected Divisional/District Hospitals;

· Established anti T.B. drug bank for women;

· Started housing scheme for destitute women with a Rs. 20 million revolving Fund.

5. Pla