PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious manifesto for the Feb 8 general elections promising peace, development and reforms in education, health and all other sectors after coming to power.

It also announced its government would give away “Food Card” to underprivileged people and stipend to the people with disabilities.

PTI-P chairman Pervez Khattak presented the election manifesto during a news conference here saying after winning elections, his party will make “all-out efforts for justice, meritocracy and equal rights for all as well as development in all spheres of economy.”

He said the overall aim of the PTI-P’s manifesto was peace, development and happiness.

Says its govt will ensure enrolment of all children in schools, provision of health card to all

Mr Khattak said his government would strive to create equal opportunities of development for all segments of society besides the security of life and property for the poorest and for those incapable of staying against the tyrants and oppressors.

“We believe that terrorism has devastating and far-reaching effects on the economy, psychology, mindset, happiness index, and life security in KP in particular and in Pakistan in general. Our commitment is to control all menaces and promote the level of tolerance and acceptance among all citizens of Pakistan,” he said reading from the manifesto.

The PTI-P leader said his party’s vision was peace and prosperity with good relations with neighbouring countries on the basis of mutual trust and reciprocity.

He also said his government would ensure that Pakistan has friendly relations with all sovereign countries of the world with those ties based on transparency, mutual interests, and sovereignty.

“Our vision is that no child should be out of school, so we [after coming to power] will introduce an Education Card for free education to every deserving student in colleges, and uniform standards for public and private schools.

We will devise tools and strategies to bring concepts-based curriculum, give away stipend to secondary school girls, devise a comprehensive strategy to synchronise religious schools into the mainstream,” he said.

Mr Khattak said his government would introduce an independent and transparent mechanism to appoint university vice-chancellors, senior staff members and administrators.

He said when he was the chief minister of the province, the police department was reformed but still the people were not satisfied with the performance of the police.

“We will further those reforms,” he said, promising the launch of online FIRs as well as the registration of cases for all offences committed.

The PTI-P chairman said his government would have zero tolerance for all crimes from kidnapping to extortion to rape to robberies to drugs to land grabbing and the police’s performance would be regularly monitored at the highest level.

He said the PTI-P promised the provision of “Health Card” to all families, establishment of a tertiary care hospital at district level, and revitalisation of MTIs to turn them into more efficient and friendlier for visitors.

“The PTI-P government will strengthen DHQ hospitals and RHCs by providing them with the best possible equipment, doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff and eliminate quackery and unregistered practitioners and hospitals,” he said.

Mr Khattak said his party believed that the future isin modern agriculture techniques, so its government would provide a framework for land utilisation to irrigate the un-irrigated land through flood dams.

He also promised subsidies for modern technologies, including tunnel farming, cold storages, value chain for agricultural products, drip irrigation and pivot irrigation system.

The PTI-P chairman said his government would ensure e-governance in public administration through innovative systems and make all postings, transfers, payments, admission filing system and employments through e-system.

He said after coming to power, his party would bring the merged tribal districts on par with other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through massive development and provision of basic services to the people.

“We will ensure protection of minorities against hate and violence, and protect their civil, social and religious rights as well as their places of worship, property and institutions as guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.

Mr Khattak promised a business-friendly atmosphere across the province and said during his party’s rule, all relevant government departments would provide assistance to businesses and startups for growth.

“Our youth policy has three Es, including education, employment and engagement. It will ensure investment in educated, skilled young people to make Pakistan a great nation,” he said.

Mr Khattak said his party’s government would take “right steps and initiatives” to mitigate hardships of special persons and would provide them with a monthly stipend of Rs5,000-Rs10,000 depending on the level of disability.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2024