Balochistan Awami Party, the youngest party in the country founded in March this year, has announced an ambitious manifesto for the 2018 general elections. The manifesto was presented during a press conference on Tuesday, where a spokesman said the party founded as a 'wild card' entrant but people were interested in their political and economic reforms for the next five years.
He said the manifesto, despite incorporating a wide range of issues, will be an 'ongoing document' and the party will be open to new suggestions from various stakeholders and include them as well. BAP president Jam Mir Kamal thanked those who helped to develop the manifesto and said it includes a wide range of issues for all segments of society. He said that people of Balochistan desire a developed society, and the manifesto has been made based on the ground realities where half of the population is less than 25 years old.
He said if given the opportunity the resources of Balochistan will be fully utilised to benefit the people and increase investment in the province, giving special preference to deprived areas.
"The people of Balochistan desire a prosperous society. Half of the population is under 25 years of age. The manifesto has been prepared based on ground realities. We will give special consideration to deprived districts," he said.
The manifesto calls for increasing the volume of investment in the next five years, and establish the Balochistan Bank. The party will set up industrial areas and bring budgetary and economic reforms. The party will provide 'Awami Imtiazi' cards to victims of disasters. It also seek full enrolment in schools till middle standard, build modern laboratories in public schools, and set up a fund for deserving and underprivileged students.
In the field of healthcare, the party will introduce low-cost and affordable health insurance card system. The party will establish Bureau of Infrastructure to improve the basic infrastructure facilities in the province. The party will also give attention to mining sector. It will also introduce an administrative reforms commission report, contribute to police reforms, and strengthen the local bodies systems.
Furthermore, the party will increase police budget, provide more equipment and implement a police training programme. The rural areas will provided all necessary facilities, and establish support complexes by local and international assistance. The party also seeks to provide facilities to areas near ports, bring agricultural reforms, and provide solar power and wind energy to remote and far-flung areas, and also made efforts to reduce the adverse water crisis.
The party was founded in March 2018 by dissidents from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PML-Q to dislodge the government of then chief minister Sanaullah Zehri. In January 2018, Abdul Quddus Bizenjo was elected as the new chief minister of Balochistan.