KARACHI, Jan 11: The Sindh Democratic Alliance (SDA) has said it will strive for distribution of funds from the divisible pool in accordance with the proportionate income of the provinces instead of the present formula, which is based on population ratio.

It also vowed to work for the proper representation of women in all government and semi-government organizations on the basis of their population.

These two points were part of many features of the SDA manifesto, salient features of which were issued here on Friday after a meeting of the steering committee. Mujeeb Pirzada, who heads the party’s manifesto committee, highlighted some of its features at a press briefing where the SDA convener, Imtiaz Shaikh, answered questions related to organizational matters.

Mr Pirzada said the basic principle of the alliance was to contest national and provincial assemblies’ elections in October in the form of a group and establish government at provincial and federal levels with the cooperation of other like-minded parties.

He said they had already reached an understanding in Punjab with the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf of Imran Khan and Sardar Farooq Laghari’s Millat Party, while talks with the PML Sindh, led by Ghous Bux Mehar, and PPP (SB) of Ghinva Bhutto were in progress. “Our talks with PPP also continue,” he added and made it clear that the alliance could also extend support to other party candidates on a reciprocal basis.

Another important feature of the SDA, he said, was to declare clean drinking water one of the fundamental rights and responsibility of the government to ensure its provision to all sections of the society in rural and urban areas.

In reply to a question, Mr Shaikh said the SDA was being organized at the taluka level in the province so that it could play its role as a well-knitted organization in the forthcoming elections.

Earlier, reading out the salient features of the manifesto Mr Pirzada said after coming to power the alliance would strive to establish a tolerant society, fight against corruption in all forms and at all levels.

The alliance would establish rule of law, ensure an independent judiciary, eliminate the gap between the urban and rural population of Sindh in all fields of life and creat harmony among all the linguistic and ethnic groups.

The SDA would strive to restore true spirit of federalism, obtain and establish full provincial autonomy in all fields — administration, financial, judicial and in the field of natural resources.

It would also encourage good governance and take step to discourage the social evils in the society such as Karo-kari, abduction, rapes, land grabbing, sectarian, religious and tribal feuds.

The SDA would also strive to eliminate unemployment by creating jobs in the public and private sectors and would work to establish a society based on principles of social justice.

The alliance would encourage establishment of an agro-based industry in Sindh and shall treat agriculture as industry and would ensure that all government agricultural farms are restored to the required productivity.

The SDA would also ensure reduction of taxes on farmers and ensure proper and adequate distribution of irrigation water.