I have the following suggestions for President Zardari to improve the quality of life of masses:
1. Implement the 1977 Land Reform Act. This Act was not implemented by Zia ul Haq, after taking a Fatwa against it. There can be no better tribute to Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto than this. With its implementation; you will prove to be the worthy successor of the Shaheed.
2. Go ahead and repeal all laws, including Hadood ordinance, which have curtailed the personal rights of Pakistanis and created tension in the society.
3. Make peace with India; with some adjustments on Kashmir borders, to concentrate energy on poverty alleviation and developing our part of Kashmir.
4. Adopt a zero inflation policy to protect the poor. This can be easily done. Your current economic advisors are misleading you in this regard. They tell you that inflation can be controlled by police action, while they know that this is not true.
5. Reduce indirect taxes radically and increase direct taxes substantially to reduce poverty. Why you should help rich get richer while poor curse you for their plight.
6. Create two Free Economic Zones in each province. Such zones should have their own simplified laws and provide one window service to investors. Like China these zones would become powerful economic engines of the country and absorb surplus labour and alleviate poverty.
7. Create one additional province in each existing province and also relocate the federal capital to a more central location. The new provincial capitals should also be in central locations.
8. Restore 5% right for locals in the natural resource taken out from their area, as was granted by the Act of 1935. Such right is still available in India and Bangladesh. The denial of this right after discovery of Sui Gas is the root cause of Balochistan problem.
9. Absorb all FATA and PATA into Pakistan by adopting Balochistan model.
10. Move all defence away from cities and locate them in remote areas as per international practice. Auction all defence land in cities. The proceeds should make Armed Forces self financing. These measures will enhance the respect for Army and end the sometime insulting debate in Parliament and press about their budget.
11. Create a Federal Mortgage Agency, with special eviction powers, to refinance property development. Such an agency transformed USA after its creation in 1954. The present standard of living in USA would be unthinkable without such agencies. Such agencies can raise unlimited funds from the international market.
12. Start a mandatory saving scheme for overseas Pakistanis. Linked with passport renewal. Such a scheme can generate some USD 4 billion annually and provide support to Pakistan. It can also secure the future of overseas Pakistanis, who otherwise end up spending all their savings on consumption items.
13. Simplify business laws to eliminate corruption. British laws were meant for a captive market and are not suitable for current needs. Laws of USA, Japan, Germany as well as that of Hong Kong, Singapore may be used as a base for new laws.
14. Look other way and let the cheap Iranian oil flow into the country unhindered, to save foreign exchange and reduce inflation.
15. Government should insist on reading of Quran in Urdu before Arabic. Also compel rendering of translation of Ayats in Urdu after prayers. Based on my observation in Holland, I predict that terrorism and extremism based on religion, will vanish for ever within the next 30-40 years, with this master stroke.
16. Introduce working hours in line with Islamic teachings. Which will entail start of days work within an hour of Fajr prayer. This will save lot of energy and promote healthy lift style.
The writer is president, overseas Pakistani investors forum