‘Workable solutions’: Economic issues dominate PML-N manifesto meeting

Participants say international quarters are interested in party’s regional policies.

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif presided over the party’s manifesto committee meeting on Saturday, during which the bulk of the time was spent discussing how the party intends to tackle the prevalent economic crisis.

The manifesto committee held its fourth meeting at the party’s secretariat in Model Town, where participants deliberated over the economy, issues of national security and foreign policy, according to an official statement. The remaining time was dedicated to education and the social sector, while discussions on interprovincial harmony were put off for the next convention to be held on December 10, when the final paperwork for the manifesto is due to be completed.

The committee was supposed to complete the paperwork by December 1 but since economic issues dominated the itinerary, another meeting has been scheduled to cover the rest of the topics.

Sharif will announce the party’s manifesto after the conclusion of the last meeting on December 31, when it will be published nationwide, said the statement.



During the meeting, Senator Ishaq Dar presented details about his plan regarding the economy and energy sector. Dar said the party would focus on addressing the problem of circular debt in the energy sector as that had the potential to end loadshedding, participants told The Express Tribune.

Another topic of discussion was the party’s stance on national security and foreign affairs. Participants said the leadership is keen on these matters as international quarters are also interested in the party’s policies regarding the region. The party believes that the Afghanistan imbroglio should be solved by the Afghan people themselves, and not outsiders, they added.

If the PML-N comes into power following the upcoming general elections, it would consult the Afghan government and suggest steps to take after the US and allied forces withdraw from Afghanistan.



Participants added that experts gave suggestions on the party’s regional policy to the PML-N chief, who will meet foreign ambassadors in the coming days to discuss the same.

During its earlier three meetings, the committee reviewed its previous manifestos, which were in place when the party was in power – twice in the federal capacity and three times in the provincial capacity in Punjab.

Participants also appreciated Nawaz’s decision to do away with the 60-year old ‘Chungi’ (toll) tax system. There are about 3,200 tax collection centres across the country, which collect Rs200 billion per annum but only contribute Rs20 billion to the national kitty, they said.

Sharif had earlier stressed the committee is not only working to prepare a manifesto but is also looking at practical ways to implement it.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2012.