Manifestos
look great on paper but they have been seldom implemented
The
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) recently launched a seminar
series to critically evaluate manifestos of major political parties of
Pakistan. Presenting the political manifesto of the last ruling party, PPP
representatives said that the party was able to deliver on most of its
manifesto points but could not implement some promises due to interventions
from certain quarters.
The PPP election manifesto 2013 guarantees the provision of basic need to every
citizen, empowerment of all citizens, inclusive growth, infrastructure
development for the future, a new social contract, ensuring security and
positive engagement with the international community. The PPP pledges to
increase education expenditure to 4.5 percent of GDP and would bridge the
public-private and regional gaps in the quality of education through the
establishment of the National Education Standard Council.
According
to the party, the BISP has proved to be a successful social protection system
and the PPP plans to double the monthly payments under the program if elected
to office. Health spending would be increased to 5 percent of GDP and it will
bring down the population growth rate from 2 to 1.6 percent by 2018.
The other major political party, PML-N, presented its manifesto towards the end
of April. The party seeks to revive the economy during its five-year
tenure through pro-investment and pro-business policies with a planned growth
rate of about 6 percent (double the present growth rate). The party claims that
the tax-to-GDP ratio will be increased to 15 percent, and investment to GDP
ratio will be pushed up to 20 percent respectively.
To
curb the energy crisis, the party promises to invest USD 20 billion in power
sector to generate 10,000 MW of electricity (half of it from coal). Expenditure
on education would be increased to 4 percent of GDP (through such initiatives
such as Daanish schools). The health sector spending would be increased to 2
percent of GDP for subsidisation of health care through measures such as the Medical
Insurance Card system.
The
PTI manifesto session briefly elaborated all the sectors that need to be
prioritised like education, energy, health, economy, rural governance systems,
institutional reform, expenditures reform and revenue reform. PTI envisioned
converting Pakistan from being merely a security state to a welfare state. The
party representatives claimed to introduce fiscal reforms in order to increase
spending in the social sector, particularly health and education. PTI will
decentralise the health governance system, and promote alternate energy.
Moreover, the party proposes to form a rural governance system, managed by
village councils, in order to increase community ownership and transparency of
resource allocation.
PML-Q, in its manifesto, promises to combat extremism through the establishment
of a National Security Council and an effective Counter Terrorism Strategy.
PML-Q seeks to enhance synchronisation between the civil and military systems,
the center and provinces, and within various law enforcement agencies. The
PML-Q aspires to build an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic society. The
party hopes to achieve this by providing free education to all, forming a
special parliamentary committee to address all legitimate interests of the
public, and, interestingly, by providing a comprehensive insurance policy for
journalists.
The
ANP envisions a “Pur-Aman Pakistan”. The party is committed to evolve a
national consensus for peace by engaging in a dialogue with disturbed groups
within conflict areas. Moreover, the party pledges to provide equitable
social and economic rights to all federating units of Pakistan. The ANP is committed
to increase the education budget to 6 percent of GDP. The party promises
to provide free education to all in public schools (including uniforms,
textbooks and stipends to female students).
The
MQM manifesto titled “Empowering People” promises power to the people to
achieve progress, prosperity and stability in the country. Effective
implementation of local government system is MQM’s top priority. The manifesto
of MQM tackles a wide range of issues including education, health, economy,
governance, corruption, terrorism and poverty alleviation in Pakistan. The MQM
considers health and education as the most crucial sectors, and promises the
allocation of 5 percent of GDP for education and 5 percent for health. The
party will widen the tax net by applying agricultural income throughout the
country and addressing the leakages and loopholes in various sectors. The MQM
promise radical reforms in the education sector particularly in textbooks where
hate material would be removed which is promoting extremism in the country.
The
missing element in every party’s manifesto appeared to be a deliverable plan of
action as to how the party is going to implement its policy statements.
Moreover, the promises seem more of a repetition of the unfulfilled-promises
that were made five-years ago. The manifestos of the parties in power for the
last five years were unconvincing as they made little reference to lessons
learnt from past experience and focused on discussing future solutions.
Pakistan’s
major political parties demonstrate a clear understanding of the issues and
problems at hand. However, they are not able to provide any realistic
solutions. The political parties, before the election, are motivated to work
for the betterment of the people, but their policies are seldom implemented
during their tenure. The implementation of policy requires political will.
Unfortunately this is something that is missing in the established political
parties.
|
