Reflection of the PPP manifesto for the February election

Dr. ABDUL RAZAK SHAIKH
The PPP started the election campaign with full of Sprit in whole Pakistan. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wants free, fair, and transparent elections in the country on February 8, 2024. He said that we believe in the Election Commission of Pakistan, while the next government belongs to the PPP, Providing job opportunities and a roof is the priority of the PPP. During his speeches on 27h December 2023 on the death anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarrma Benazir Bhutto at Ghari Khuda Bux, the PPP chairman announced ten points of the Manifesto of the party for the next election 2024. Salaries will be doubled, Green Energy Park will be established in every district, and up to 300 units of free electricity for the poorest people, Education for all will ensure easy access to education for every child, Free health system will be established across the country, three million houses will be built for the poorest people, Benazir Income Support Programme will be expanded, Benazir Kisan/Hari Card will be issued, Benazir Mazdoor card will be issued all over the country, Youth Card will be launched for the financial support of the youth, and a hunger eradication program will be launched to combat poverty and inflation. The manifesto will reflect the people of Pakistan and the public gathering of the Chairman of PPP is showing to be increased in Punjab, which earlier upset for party in the 2013 and 2018 elections. Asif Ali Zardari and Asifa Bhutto Zardari are also seeing visible in the campaign and PPP is seen to be more inclined than other parties. Since its formation in 1967, the PPP has been voted into power on five separate occasions 1970,1977,1988,1993, and 2008. It dominated the politics of Pakistan during the 1970s.PPP also remains powerful in the province of Sindh and has 15 years in power in a thrice-time tenure. The founding mission of the PPP with a slogan of Roti, Kapra aur Makan is still as relevant as it was more than five decades ago. Until the people are not provided with the very essentials of life, food, clothing, and shelter. PPP would remain politically valid and relevant in Pakistan. The PPP created history by introducing the 18th Amendment and getting it passed, thereby giving provinces the ownership of their resources. It plans to implement the 18th Amendment and the NFC award in its truest sense. One hundred billion rupees can be saved annually if we fully implement the 18th Amendment by abolishing all devolved ministries. It plans to save this amount and spend it on our elders, for their medical treatment, as well as the young and their education. This time, it envisions a budget that incorporates Kissan and Mazdoor cards to help the laborers and peasants. 300 units of Electricity free of caste will be a very big benefit to poor People. If the manifesto is implemented fully, PPP’s 10 points could take the country out of the prevalent mess. The PPP has also pledged to ad­dress education and housing sub­jects, the two of which are consid­ered to be one of the least addressed questions. Education needs to spend 4 percent on improvement in stan­dards and children’s education. A 2020 UNICEF report estimated that 36% of all the Katchi Abadis are still unreg­istered and are, therefore, illegal. With Pakistan’s population ex­pected to increase to 250 million by 2025 and the urban popu­lation to entail 50% of the total population by 2040, the demand for housing is expected to in­crease manifold. The points to en­sure access to education for every child and building new low-cost 3 million houses are, hence well-thought-of promises. PPP’s 10-point agenda may not have covered everything, with no men­tion of climate change, technologi­cal development, and reforms in police and bureaucracy but it is a public manifesto with empha­sis on social welfare. The bigger challenges such as foreign policy, privatizing state-owned enterpris­es, and scaling back expenditures can be done after assuming pow­er. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari already hinted at abol­ishing 17 ministries calling them redundant in the wake of the 18th amendment. The troubles that the country is into, cannot be undone overnight but a clear roadmap in the shape of a carefully drafted manifesto is the best jumpstart. PPP has taken the lead in this re­gard and the electorate will soon decide how impactful it is. Benazir Bhutto’s Income support program has been worldwide accepted and that is why PPP is more popular among the poor people of Pakistan. History never forget the the scarification of their Quaids for the Cause of Democracy in Pakistan. 8th February 2024 is very near and will decide the new leadership of Pakistan for the next five years.