ISLAMABAD: Prime ministerial hopeful Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Saturday launched its manifesto ahead of the upcoming general elections, promising to bring a “transformational change” by addressing water and food insecurity, lack of employment and other challenges facing the country.
Political parties in Pakistan having been running their election campaigns in full swing as Pakistan, a nation of 241 million, heads to national elections scheduled for February 8.
The PPP, which has been voted to power on five occasions, has outlined a comprehensive plan for inclusive development and a transformative change in its latest manifesto, which is centered on economic gains anchored in social justice, according to Sherry Rehman, the party vice president.
It has a clear message for inclusion and transformational change based on prioritizing economic gains premised on social justice, the creation of employment opportunities, and a strong focus on providing both growth and relief to the most vulnerable sections.
While launching the manifesto, Rehman said business as usual was no longer an option and neither could the country wait for trickle-down, supply-side economic policies for any transformative change, given the present circumstances.
“We cannot wait for the rich to get far, far richer before they allow their wealth to filter down to the landless, the poor, the unemployed, and the unempowered,” she said.
“While we will incentivize entrepreneurs and encourage public-private partnerships for creating and governing substantive health and education initiatives for quality services that reach all, we will seek to share burden with those who can afford it. It’s time for strategic re-sets, and we are ready to harness the clean energy of local solar parks, divert wasteful spending, and create a Pakistan that grows and adds value to change the lives of our citizens.”
In discussing the imperative of inclusive economic growth, the PPP leader emphasized that investments must be encouraged and enabled to ensure the benefits of growth reach every stratum of society.
“Resources have to be mobilized to give way for distribution that is fair, for the labor and women and farmers that turn the wheels of our country to earn a decent, living wage and not just become destitute or victims of health traumas and climate disasters overnight to eke out a subsistence living that leaves children malnourished, with a high percentage still prey to disease and stunting,” she said.
“The focus on young people, women, and the socially disadvantaged, with incentives, support, and an enabling environment for change, has been a core theme for creating prosperity in Pakistan by flattening social pyramids and empowering the growing numbers of the vulnerable and the poor in the country.”
Rehman, a former federal minister for climate change, said her party was seeking to address the growing food and water insecurity challenges in the country, the lack of jobs and vertical growth opportunities for the young, underemployed workforce, while seeking viable solutions for chronic and systemic issues that hamper public social services.
She said the PPP aimed to roll out a diverse range of programs addressing issues such as food insecurity, health care accessibility and social safety net, along with comprehensive offerings to support farmers and laborers.
“By giving them resilient homes and ownership of those homes, as has already begun in Sindh post-flood areas, we will change them into home and small land owners, with women as the actual title holders of these new assets,” she said.
“We will provide social protections under the BISP, expand the existent projects, and empower young people by providing financial support and training, as well as creating youth centers in every district.”
Rehman stressed the party’s ten-point economic agenda, launched in the early part of the campaign by PPP Chairman Bhutto-Zardari, had formed the heart of its “new thinking” on creating a social contract with the people, who had been struggling with soaring inflation and climate and social distress on the ground.
“None of the points have been just thrown together to create a manifesto without a plan to implement the cross-cutting themes, but instead bolstered by thought leadership on how the economic space to fund the people’s agenda for strategic re-sets of our human capital and resources to grow and add value to change the lives of our citizens,” she said.
Rehman said it would need political will and public consensus to reboot Pakistan’s growth and governance.
“There is a clear vision for addressing the challenges the future will hold both at home and abroad,” she said. “With the approaching date of February 8, it is hoped that the masses will rally behind the Pakistan Peoples Party’s young leadership for a transformative change.”
Pakistan PM hopeful Bhutto-Zardari’s party promises ‘transformational change’ in election manifesto
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Pakistan PM hopeful Bhutto-Zardari’s party promises ‘transformational change’ in election manifesto
- The manifesto outlines comprehensive plan for inclusive development and is anchored in social justice, party says
- It promises to address food, water insecurity and provide jobs and growth opportunities to most vulnerable sections
Pakistan calls for independent commission on minorities, activating mosques as community centers
- Non-Muslims constitute about three percent of Pakistan’s estimated population of 240 million
- Pakistan’s minorities regularly come under attack by militant groups, complain of discrimination
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday called for granting financial and administrative autonomy to the National Commission for Minorities and said an interfaith harmony policy should be launched to activate mosques as community centers to promote religious tolerance.
Non-Muslims constitute about three percent of Pakistan’s estimated population of 240 million people. Pakistan’s minority communities complain of facing discrimination in nearly all walks of life and regularly come under attack by militant groups. They have also sometimes been accused of blasphemy, which is punishable by death in the South Asian nation.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs and Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sanaullah, chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2024. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar proposed at the meeting to make the National Commission for Minorities “independent and autonomous from ministerial pressure.”
“The subcommittee also proposed granting financial and administrative autonomy to the commission. The commission will consist of 13 members, 9 of whom will be from minority communities,” the ministry of religious affairs said in a statement.
“The committee directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to finalize the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2024 within three days.”
A new interfaith harmony policy for promoting religious tolerance was also reviewed.
“Sanaullah emphasized the significant importance of mosques in Islam and suggested that the interfaith harmony policy should include a proposal to activate mosques as community centers,” the statement said.
“The committee directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to present the interfaith harmony policy and the policy for promoting religious tolerance to the federal cabinet meeting for final approval, incorporating the subcommittee’s amendments related to both policies.”
With Champions Trophy looming, Pakistan rest Afridi for South Africa tests
- Pakistan wants to keep the speedster fresh for the Champions Trophy at home next year
- Left-arm quick picked for six limited-overs matches in South Africa beginning Dec. 10
LAHORE: Speedster Shaheen Afridi has been left out of Pakistan’s squad for a two-test series in South Africa in a bid to keep him fresh for the Champions Trophy at home next year, the country’s cricket board said on Wednesday.
However, the left-arm quick has been picked for six limited-overs matches in South Africa beginning on Dec. 10, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
“Shaheen Afridi, who also missed the last two tests against England, has been picked for the white-ball matches as part of his workload management so that he is in his best fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” the statement read.
Fellow fast bowler Naseem Shah and batting mainstay Babar Azam, both of whom missed the last two matches against England, were recalled for the test matches in Centurion and Cape Town.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan, whose tally of 19 wickets in two tests was key to Pakistan’s 2-1 series victory against England in October, was dropped.
“Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision,” selector and interim test team coach Aqib Javed said.
“However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling.”
Pakistan squads:
Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
ODI: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
T20I: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Imran Khan’s party has ‘history of lawlessness,’ Pakistani deputy PM tells diplomatic corps
- Ishaq Dar briefs diplomats on recent protests by PTI and government actions to disperse demonstrators
- The PTI says at least 20 of its supporters have been killed, while the government says four troops died
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan had a “history of lawlessness,” as he briefed the diplomatic corps on recent protests by the party and government actions to disperse demonstrators.
Thousands of PTI supporters had gathered in Islamabad’s historic D-Chowk square last month to demand Khan’s release from prison. The protest convoy broke through several lines of security and reached the edge of the capital’s highly fortified red zone, home to key government and diplomatic buildings. The protest was called off after security forces carried out a midnight raid on the site, with the government saying it used rubber bullets and tear gas but no live ammunition.
The PTI says at least 20 of its supporters have been killed, while the government says four troops died. The PTI has also said “hundreds” of its supporters had been hospitalized with gunshot wounds and the government was attempting to cover up the extent of the deaths and injuries, which state authorities deny. Meanwhile, social media platforms have been awash for days with pictures and video footage of the injured and dead that the government has called “fake propaganda,” insisting there were no civilian casualties.
Briefing diplomats at the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Wednesday, Dar reiterated that law enforcement agencies were not provided live ammunition but used water cannons, tear gas and batons.
“Our priority has always been to take care of the red zone … And we are very conscious that our valuable ambassadors, high commissioners, their colleagues, they are all housed in that area so this has always been a priority during our governance that we make sure that this area, which we call the red zone, is free from any protests or any violence,” the deputy PM said.
For this purpose, Dar explained, parliament passed a law this year, the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, to streamline the process for obtaining permission to hold public gatherings in Islamabad and designating specific areas and timings for such activities.
Prior to the start of the PTI’s protest on Nov. 24, a Pakistani court had also ruled that the party would not be allowed to demonstrate in the red zone, but should engage with the government and be designated an alternative location.
“The government obviously tried its best, the ministry of interior engaged them [PTI], there were long sessions of three days but nothing came out of it,” Dar said. “They were insistent that law or no law, that we will come in the red zone, so unfortunately [there is] a history of lawlessness in this party.”
The deputy foreign minister, who also serves as the country’s foreign minister, also said the party had a history of announcing protests during visits by foreign dignitaries.
The November protest coincided with a visit to Pakistan of the president of Belarus while protests in October, which the PTI later called off, had been planned on the days of a key Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Islamabad.
“This shows mala fide intent,” Dar added.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed legal action against “rioters” involved in the PTI’s anti-government protests as the party decried a state-backed crackdown against its supporters.
In the aftermath of the protests, Sharif has formed two task forces: one to identify and take legal action against rioters and another to track and bring to justice suspects behind what the government describes as a “malicious campaign” to spread “concocted, baseless and inciting” online news, images and video content against the state and security forces.
Pakistan stocks smash record 105,000 mark on rate cut hopes
- State Bank has already slashed interest rates by 700 basis points in four consecutive meetings since June
- Poll by Topline Securities says 71 percent participants expect central bank will announce rate cut of 200bps
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks continued their record-breaking streak on Wednesday, crossing the 105,000 point mark for the first time on the back of investor confidence of a significant interest rate cut by the central bank at the next monetary policy meeting on Dec. 16.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index climbed 914.49 points, or 0.87%, to hit a new intraday high of 105,473.56. Wednesday’s session follows Tuesday’s impressive gains, with the market closing at 104,559.07, adding 1,284 points.
The State Bank has already slashed interest rates by 700 basis points (bps) in four consecutive meetings since June, bringing the rate to 15%.
According to a poll conducted by Topline Securities, 71 % of participants expect the central bank will announce a minimum rate cut of 200bps.
“Out of the 71 percent, 63 percent expect the interest rate to be cut by 200bps, 30 percent expect a cut of 250bps, and 7.0 percent anticipate a cut of more than 250bps,” the poll said.
Market analysts credit the rally in stocks to improving macroeconomic indicators, strong trade performance, and the anticipation of further monetary easing.
Pakistan’s annual consumer inflation slowed to 4.9% in November, lower than the government’s forecast and the lowest in nearly six years. This is down from 38% last year.
Trade data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics also supports positive investor sentiment as the trade deficit narrowed by 7.39% during the first five months (July-November) of the current fiscal year, standing at $8.651 billion, compared to $9.341 billion during the same period last year.
Exports rose by 12.57% to hit $13.69 billion, while imports increased by 3.90% to $22.342 billion during this period. November’s trade deficit narrowed even further, dropping by 18.60% year-on-year to $1.589 billion compared to $1.952 billion in November 2023.
Pakistan recall fast bowler Mohammad Abbas after 3 years for test matches in South Africa
- Abbas has taken 90 wickets in 25 test matches but hasn’t played red-ball cricket for Pakistan since the Jamaica test in 2021
- He has been in impressive form of late, picking up 31 wickets in five premier domestic four-day tournament matches
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recalled fast bowler Mohammad Abbas after three years for test matches while Shaheen Shah Afridi will play only white-ball cricket in South Africa.
Abbas has taken 90 wickets in 25 test matches but hasn’t played red-ball cricket for Pakistan since the Jamaica test in 2021. He has been in impressive form of late, picking up 31 wickets in five premier domestic four-day tournament matches.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the Champions Trophy,” selection committee member Aaqib Javed said in a statement on Wednesday.
Naseem Shah, who missed the last two home test matches against England, Khurram Shahzad and left-armer Mir Hamza are the pace bowlers named to the test squad.
Pakistan begins its tour of South Africa next Tuesday with three T20s, followed by three ODIs and two test matches at Centurion and Cape Town.
“We have adopted a horses for courses policy to ensure all three squads are well-balanced and capable of performing strongly in South Africa,” said Javed, who was also appointed interim white-ball coach ahead of Pakistan’s tour to Zimbabwe.
“Our focus in ODIs is to continue building momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy, while the T20 series provides a platform to blend experience with emerging talent.”
Off-spinner Sajid Khan missed out on the test team despite claiming 19 wickets in the last two test matches against England at Multan and Rawalpindi. Noman Ali, who picked up 20 wickets in those two memorable victories for Pakistan, won the selectors’ nod ahead of Sajid.
“Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision,” Javed said. “However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling.”
Former all format captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha were named to all three squads.
The selectors have kept faith in youngster Sufiyan Muqeem for T20s and ODIs after the left-arm wrist spinner claimed eight wickets in two T20s against Zimbabwe. Sufiyan also recorded Pakistan’s best-ever T20 figures of five wickets for three runs at Bulawayo on Tuesday that routed Zimbabwe for its lowest T20 score of 57 all out.
Squads:
Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha.
ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
T20s: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
