Economic experts and politicians at a book launch on Wednesday urged the government to declare an education emergency in the country and enhance the education budget from 1.8 per cent to at least five per cent of Gross Domestic Product.
The experts stated this during the launch of the book-cum-election manifesto of Pakistan Muslim League - Likeminded (PML-L), titled “Road Map to Pakistan’s Recovery: Peace, Prosperity, Justice for all”.
In his address, noted columnist Dr Ashfaq Hassan Khan underscored the need to invest in the education sector, terming it necessary to maintain fiscal discipline. “This way we can liberate Pakistan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and related institutions,” he added.
The author, PML-L General Secretary Humayun Akhtar Khan, said that a number of practical solutions in education and health sectors have been proposed in the book. He said that employment to one member of each family, both rural as well as urban, has been guaranteed by the PML manifesto, adding that minimum wages have been proposed for rural labourers in addition to urban labourers.
He said the manifesto ensures women rights and emancipation, besides assuring an end to wani, swara, honour killings, domestic violence and sexual harassment. Security of life and property of minorities and freedom of the media have also been guaranteed, he said.
Khan stated that the book covers 25 areas of concern including security, justice, education, health, youth, labour, minorities, media, terrorism, economy, energy, water, foreign policy, constitutional reforms and good governance.
He said the manifesto promises reforms in civil services, to reinstate local government system and computerise all land records in the country. It proposes that the term of the National Assembly should be reduced to four years and a new category of technocrats should be added to the list of reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies to improve governance. It states that all senior bureaucratic appointments should follow the same procedures as those of judges, the Chief Election Commissioner and Chairman National Accountability Bureau, Khan said.
He said the PML-L manifesto supports the creation of additional provinces and constitutional reforms to simplify the process. The movements for restoration of Bahawalpur province and the creation of Saraiki and Hazara provinces have also been endorsed.
Speakers at the event agreed that stability in the region is imperative for security and economic growth. With respect to the Afghanistan crisis, they are of the view that the Afghan people must make their decisions themselves without any external pressure.
Party heads Salim Saifullah and Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri added that more changes will be made to the document, according to the needs of the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2011.
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