LAHORE, Aug 25: Education for all is the top priority of the Pakistan Awami Tehrik, says its manifesto to be formally made public on Aug 28.

According the manifesto, the literacy rate will be raised up to 90 per cent through adult education movement and by imparting formal and informal education within a period of 10 years, promising a drastic change in the education system within the same period.

It also says that education reforms will also be introduced in the religious education system.

In the economic sector, the PAT will ensure continuity of government policies to restore confidence of entrepreneurs. Tax ratio will be minimized and tax base will be widened, while documentation of economy will also be undertaken.

It also pledges to continue the privatization process and encourage transformation of big industrial groups into multi-national companies.

The PAT will make agriculture as the foundation of its economic revolution. Long leases of state land will be cancelled and the land will be allotted to landless peasants. Livestock industry will be organized and loans will be offered to farmers on easy terms.

It also intends to introduce constitutional and legal guarantees to ensure long-term industrial policies. Embassies will be given export targets, trade missions will be sent abroad to explore new markets and quality control will be ensured to win the confidence of foreign buyers.

Business parks will be established in industrial zones which will be linked to airports and the other areas.

A transaction based tax system will be introduced in phases in three years. Devaluation of the rupee will be disallowed.

The PAT will make labourers shareholders in factories. A part of gross profit will be distributed among workers of each unit. The ceiling of minimum wages will be set at Rs5,000, while a workers security ministry will be set up.

Forced labour by children and women will be banned and a Rs100 billion poverty alleviation fund will be set up.

Under a five-year plan, unemployment will be eradicated by creating five million jobs in various fields. Unemployment allowance will also be given to the jobless youth.

A national health service will be set up to provide basic health cover to every citizen. The people earning less than Rs5,000 per month will be entitled to free medical treatment under national health insurance to be introduced at official level.

The judicial system will be changed for the provision of immediate and speedy justice. The powers of judiciary will be devolved to the lower level. A department of legal help will be established for the protection of civil liberties.

Properties and assets of defaulters will be confiscated and nobody will be allowed to usurp even a single penny. Summary accountability courts will be established to decide corruption cases speedily.

To restore law and order, the area SHO will be bound to arrest the accused within 48 hours of committal of any crime. Society will be deweaponized.

The orientation of bureaucracy will be changed from being a ruling institution to that of responsive and responsible one attending to the problems of the masses on an urgent basis.

The PAT will create equal opportunities for women in all walks of national life to integrate them into the national mainstream. The number of the existing academic institutions of women will be increased. Political, social, cultural, educational and family rights of women will be protected and substantial steps will be taken for their progress in these areas.

Discriminatory laws against religious minorities will be repealed. Discrimination to minorities will be neutralized by encouraging social inter-faith interaction.

A youth ministry will be set up and representatives of the youth will also be included in the formation of policies of national importance. The government will take practical and comprehensive steps for the promotion of tourism in the country. Private sector will be offered incentives to bring in investment in this field.

Communication infrastructure will be developed, new projects will be planned and speedily implemented. High-speed expressways and electric transportation will be established between the rural and urban areas.

A 10-year transport plan will be launched for the improvement of railway transport. Airports will be set up in industrial and trade cities. —Amjad Mahmood