Four Years of Provincial Autonomy, Financial Equalisation and Democratic Devolution
14 August Independence Day
From Dictatorial Regression to Democratic Reforms:
Rights of the labour:
---- Through Benazir Employees stock option Scheme, labourers turned owners and got representation in management Boards
---- Ban on Trade Union activities lifted
---- Contractual employees regularised and terminated employees restored
---- Labourers' Wages enhanced from Rs 4600 to 8000 per month
---- 158% increase in salaries of Government Employees
Rights of the Women:
---- Allocation of 10% job quota for women
---- Legislation to make workplace safe for women
---- Legislation for prevention from domestic violence
---- Punishment determined for acid throwing on women
---- Steps to ensure women's share in inheritance taken
---- Millions of women got their CNIC's for the first time enabling them to cast their votes
Constitutional Reforms: Stability of Democratic Parliamentary System:
---- More than 100 constitutional amendments and 110 laws passed
---- Action on 90% Articles of Charter of Democracy completed
---- Access to the education, lawful course and information regarded as fundamental rights
---- Abolished the powers of the President to dissolve the Parliament on his own
---- Four more seats of religious minorities in Senate added
---- Administrative authority given to Prime Minister and Ministers instead of the President and the Officers
From Parochial Confrontation to Open-hearted Political Reconciliation:
Rights of the poor:
---- Through Benazir Income Support Program, Rs 150 Billion were distributed among 6 Million poor women.
---- Small loans to women and vocational training is being provided to the children of poor women and widows
---- Health Insurance and Fee Treatment for poor families launched
---- Through Bait-ul-Maal, hundreds of thousands widows, orphans and the needy were helped
---- "Pakistan sweet homes" for orphan children established
Right to vote - Steps for Transparent Elections:
---- First time in the history of Pakistan, correct voter lists issued
---- First time in the history of Pakistan, fair and unanimous Election Commissioner appointed
---- First time in the history of Pakistan, a unanimous and unbiased caretaker government to hold the elections
From Economic Stagnation to Agrarian Revival:
Rights of the Balochs:
---- Apology tendered by the Head of State for historical injustices
---- Rights of Baloch nation and Balochistan government on Balochistan's resources recognised
---- Recruitment of youth in civil and military services and flexibility in terms and conditions enhanced further
---- NFC Award Share of Balochistan increased from 5% to 9%
---- Concurrent list removed and federal departments handed over to the provincial government
---- Payment of Rs 120 billion in lieu of gas development surcharge initiated
Right to Identity:
---- NWFP redesignated as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in deference to democratic wishes of the Pakhtuns
---- Non-recognised Northern Areas recognised as Gilgit Baltistan
---- Decisive move initiated on the establishment of Siraiki province as per demand of Siraiki people
---- Brutal FRC laws of Fata abolished and permission to set up political parties granted and local govt. system extended to FATA.
Federal Reforms: Establishment of Democratic participatory federation
---- Fulfilment of the promise of provincial autonomy and termination of concurrent lists
---- Through constitution's new article 172 (3), the right of the provinces on resources recognised
---- Through NFC Award, Federal share reduced to 42.5% only
---- Provincial share enhanced from Rs 670 to Rs 1200 billion
---- First time in the history, area, tax and backwardness along with the population were made the basis for distribution of resources
---- To declare emergency in the provinces, approval of the provincial assembly concerned made mandatory
---- Broadened the area of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) and made its meeting mandatory after every three months
Rights of the Farmers:
---- Upward increase in support price of wheat, rice and cotton
---- Continuous record production of wheat in last three years put an end to the scarcity of wheat/flour enabling the country to earn foreign exchange in export of wheat
---- Rural economy witnessed additional income of Rs 800 billion
---- Tractors on low rates through Benazir Tractor Scheme provided
---- Important affairs of food and agriculture transferred to the provinces
Transparent Succor to the Displaced Families:
---- The whole system of emergency assistance linked with bank account and NADRA cards thus removing chances of corruption
---- Swift rehabilitation of Swat IDPs in 2009
---- Provided immediate help to 2010's flood affectees and 2011's rain affectees
---- Affectees of Bajur, Mohmand and South Waziristan supported
Supply of electricity:
---- Negligence of the past in adding megawatts to power generation to meet additional demand with growing population, industrialisation and consumption, major cause of load shedding
---- Democratic Government added 3500 MW to the national grid during the last four years
---- Raising of Mangla Dam project almost completed
---- Added 121 MW electricity by completing Alai Khawar Hydro Power Project
---- Work on Dyamir Bhasha Dam for generation of 4500 MW electricity initiated
---- Work on Neelum Jehlum Project for generation of 969 MW started
---- Work on long overdue Thar Coal Project started
---- Dabir Khawar, Gomal Dam and Sat Para dam nearing completion in next six months
---- Completion of solar energy Grid-Reduction in tax on imports for solar gadgets
Democratic Government's Achievements include:
----- Revival of the 1973 Constitution
----- Constitution empowerment of Gilgit-Baltistan
----- Consensus approval of 7th NFC Award
----- Surplus in wheat production
----- Consensus approval of 18th Constitutional Amendment
----- Passage of 24 legislative bills to empower women
----- New record of US $24 billion exports
----- Transfer of Presidential powers to the office of the Prime Minister and the Parliament
----- New record of US $17 billion foreign Reserves
----- Financial and Administration empowerment of provinces
----- Distribution of 12% share of 80 government Institutions among 5 lac workers through BESOS
----- Initiation of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-Balochistan
----- Financial Protection of 60 lac poor families through Benazir Income Support
PPP Program for Balochistan and prosperity for its peoplePakistan Peoples Party's Program for Balochistan & Prosperity for its people!
Now being implemented on a priority basis:
----- Historic Constitutional Amendments;
----- Removal 4th and 6th schedule from the constitution
----- Increase of Balochistan's share from 5.1% to 9.5% in the 7th NFC Award
----- Allocation of 90% quota for Balochistan in all Jobs at Gwadar Port
----- 56% contract awarded to local contractors at Gwadar
Economic Reforms
----- Payment of Rs 2 billions as well as 1st instalment of Rs 10 billions out of Rs 120 billion provincial dues by the Federal Government
----- Transfer of 30% shareholding, out of the Federal Government's 50% Shareholding in Saindak project to Balochistan
----- Levelling of 10,000 acres of land to be irrigated with Mirani Dam
----- Completion of Karachi Canal by 2012
----- Development of 1670 acres of land to be irrigated with Subakzai Dam
----- 31 out of 34 canals constructed
----- Completion of 70% works on Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab road
----- 73% of Qaba Saeed Khan Road - both roads to be completed by 2012
----- Approval of Rs 4.25 billion for NLC in Balochistan by the Prime Minister
----- Increase in PSDP form 416 billion to 873 billion in 4 years
----- Scholarship for 16450 students from Balochistan
----- Distribution of Rs 4.25 billion among 1,40,633 underprivileged families in Balochistan under BISP
----- Students from 30 Districts of Balochistan to Pakistan's top boarding schools by the Prime Minister
----- Establishment of IT centers in 30 district at a cost of Rs 1.5 billion
----- State-of-the-art fiber optic network to connect far-flung areas of the province at a cost of Rs 1 billion
----- Appointment of officers from Balochistan at the federal secretariat per the provincial quota
----- Addition of 3000 MW in the National grid
----- Subsidy of Rs 1200 billion for lessening the burden of electricity consumers
----- Increase of 150% in the salaries/pension of Government servants
----- Provision of 100,000 jobs in budget 2012-13 to decrease unemployment
----- Reliance on indigenous energy resources for narrowing the gap between supply and demand of electricity.
Political Executive Reforms:
----- Conversion of "B" Areas "A" Areas
----- Withdrawal of cases against 172 political workers out of a total of 183 cases
----- Deployment of FC and recall of Army
----- Under 18th and 19th Amendments the provinces of Pakistan are more empowered than ever.
Quotes of the Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on various occasions:
Energy Issue: Addressing at Tharparkar, during visit to Thar Coal mining project on August 9, 2012
"The completions of this project would attract investors from around the world and generate massive economic activity. Thar Coal was a bounty of Allah Almighty that would bring about a revolutionary change in the lives of the people of the area."
First speech in National Assembly after his election as 25th PM of the country June 22, 2012 "Efforts would be made to reduce unemployment and end the energy crisis in the country. We will expand the agriculture sector along with the development of industrial sector"
"Balochistan is on the priority list of the government the use of force was not the right way to handle any problem. Only dialogue and constructive talks can steer the province out of prevailing crisis," Stressing focus on development of social sector in Balochistan the Prime Minister said: "Balochistan tops the agenda of the present government and we will do everything possible to eliminate the sense of deprivation among our Baloch brothers and sisters"
"Election is the only process to reach the power corridors" Addressing a public gathering at Athmuqam, on July 18, 2012, and referring to election strategy of the government the Prime Minister said: "The process would further strengthen democracy in the country. It will be transparent and open for all to prove their prowess and popularity amongst the masses,"
First speech in National Assembly after his election as 25th PM of the country June 22, 2012 "My government would ensure free, fair and transparent elections acceptable to the people of the country. The opposition parties should come forward to play their due role for ensuring impartial elections"
Policy of Reconciliation First speech in National Assembly after his election as 25th PM of the country June 22, 2012 "We do not want to have politics of confrontation and will continue the politics of reconciliation in line with the vision of Benazir Bhutto. We don't want the politics of confrontation nor do we have any passion for it,"
Democracy: Addressing public gathering at Athmuqam, on July 18, 2012 "We learned lesson of democracy from Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari through his efforts has proved that PPP always struggled for strengthening of democracy and provision of basic rights of the common man." Addressing the seminar in Islamabad on 13 August, 2012 "Democracy is the only measure to promote public awareness"
Issues of Common man While addressing APP regularisation certificate distribution ceremony to distribute letters among the contract and daily wages employees of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), at the Prime Minister Secretariat on July 10, 2012
"Pakistan cannot make progress without the prosperity of its working and labour classes and we are taking along all sections of society and institutions and working together to steer the country out of its present challenges." "The main focus of PPP vision is to strengthen the economically weak sections of society like middle class and lower middle class and make them part of governance."
First speech in National Assembly after his election as 25th PM of the country June 22, 2012 "The present government, during its four-year-long tenure, took historical decisions for the uplift of masses and put the country on the path of the development"
Terrorism The Prime Minister said during his meeting with ANP leadership in Peshawar on July 4, 2012 "People of Khyber Pakthunkhwa have bravely faced the challenges of terrorism and their sacrifices for protection and prosperity of motherland would always be remembered in golden words."
Pakistan Steel Mills Addressing at PSM, August 10, 2012 "Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM) will not be privatised and efforts would be made to convert it into a profitable institution and ensured that it will be financially feasible and viable, no one would call PSM a "white elephant" as it will feed all other industries in the country"
Foreign policy First speech in National Assembly after his election as 25th PM of the country June 22, 2012 "The government wanted to have good relations with Pakistan's neighbours, including Afghanistan, India and Iran. We want to resolve all outstanding issues including the Kashmir issue, through dialogue and ongoing dialogue process with India will be widened," "I am proud that I am a worker Prime Minister and I am among the workers today."