Basic Principles of the Party
The first principle of the Party is: Islam is our Faith. Islam teaches brotherhood, love and peace. Our Faith places a responsibility on each citizen to reach out in a spirit of accommodation and tolerance to all religions and sects and to treat people of all faiths with respect, enabling them to enjoy religious freedom and equality before the law.

The message of Islam is the message of Peace. It is a message of brotherhood and tolerance. These are symbolised in the words and verses of Data Sahib, Shah Abdul Latif of Bhittai, Baba Farid Ganj Shakar and Lal Shahbaz Qalander. The sufi saints adopted a life of simple living and high thinking. It’s time we did the same. By no means did they use or preach the use of force.The PPP commits itself to religious tolerance. Religious beliefs of individual citizens have little to do with the business of the state, as the Founder of the Nation declared in his inaugural address to the Constituent Assembly on 11 August 1947. The second principle of the PPP is: Democracy is our Politics. The PPP’s commitment to freedom and fundamental rights, including freedom from hunger and want, is written in the blood of its martyrs and in the red marks of lashes on the back of its workers. It is written in the suffering and sacrifice of Quaid-e–Awam, who faced the gallows refusing to bow before tyranny, defending the human rights of our citizens to the last breath. In every age, including today, the PPP leaders and office bearers have been behind bars, in exile, facing political persecution, defending their Party at great personal cost to their families and themselves.

The third PPP principle is: Social Democracy is our Economy. The PPP aims at creating a just and equitable society with equal opportunity for all its citizens. The growing gap between the rich and the poor must be bridged by supporting the underprivileged, the downtrodden and the discriminated. The PPP is proud of being the voice of the poor, the working classes and the middle classes. Our policies, while dedicated to the underprivileged, created conditions that enabled the business and trading classes to compete in the open market. The Party will foster a social market economy, a partnership of the public and private sectors, predicated upon a synthesis of economic liberalism with a strong social democratic agenda of State responsibilities for satisfying basic human needs: full employment, national health, universal education,
water supply and sanitation.

The PPP reiterates its firm commitment to provide Food, Clothing and Shelter (Roti, Kapra Aur Makaan) to every poor family in Pakistan through our unique emphasis on full employment. The PPP is the only party with a coherent vision of a welfare state for Pakistan where market forces are balanced with safety nets for the underprivileged and the poor.

The final principle of the PPP is All Power to the People. Only the people have the right on earth to determine their destiny and chart the course of their Nation. All organs of State must be answerable to the Court of the people in an election or through their legitimately elected representatives in Parliament. To the people of Pakistan we make the following

Promises:
• We Promise to rid Pakistan of violence, bigotry and terror
• We Promise the youth of Pakistan gainful employment, hope and opportunity
• We Promise to lower inflation We Promise to provide quality education and
health care, and clean drinking water, to the masses
• We Promise to bring progress to the doorstep of the workers, farmers and small businesses
• We Promise to protect and support the disadvantaged and the vulnerable
• We Promise to make Pakistan a businessfriendly country
• We Promise to give high priority to empowerment of women and ensure their
equal rights
• We Promise to put Pakistan on a sustainable high growth path
• We Promise to ensure sound macro-economic policies
• We Promise to ensure a strong Defence
• We Promise to ensure that energy shortages are eliminated
• We Promise to protect the Environment
• We Promise to ensure a world class irrigation system and sound use of scarce water
• We Promise to enhance Provincial Autonomy
• We Promise to put in place a citizen-centric government
• Finally, We Promise Good Governance

State of the Nation
Under the PPP Government, the country was hailed as an emerging capital market of the world. Since the dismissal of the PPP Government in 1996, Pakistan has been associated with terrorism, militancy and extremism. The crisis that began with the dismissal of the PPP government can only end with the return of the PPP, and through the masses, to government. During the first Decade of the 21st Century, the country has suffered:
• Dangerous increase in terrorism and suicide bombings
• Very high levels of poverty, unemployment, and inflation
• Failed poverty reduction program, and severe exclusion of poor from the benefits of growth and progress
• Undermined national integration with the increased level of discord among Provinces
• Abuse of institutions and the judiciary
• Obscurantism and hate among religious and ethnic groups
• Huge power shortages and increasing water scarcity
• Increasing crime and suicides

The present regime has eroded all national institutions. Its repression and oppression have created a culture of lawlessness and tyranny, inflicting misery in the lives of the people of Pakistan. There is no justice for the weak and the poor. The youth are unemployed, the farmers neglected, labour retrenched, stock markets manipulated, public sector units plundered, national resources squandered, the media muzzled, civil society attacked, judiciary crushed, and political leaders exiled, imprisoned and maligned. Different areas of the country have been parceled out to violent militant groups whose influence is spreading like a cancer throughout society.

To stop the slide into lawlessness, extremism, anarchy, chaos, poverty and hunger, the restoration of genuine democracy, through free and fair elections is essential. The PPP symbolizes the empowerment of the people of Pakistan. The PPP governments served the people. The World praised its energy program as a model for the developing countries. The World Health Organization gave the PPP government a Gold Medal in recognition of its contribution to the health of its people. The International Labour Organization noted that the largest job-generation in the history of Pakistan took place under the PPP. As the voice of the people, the PPP is viewed with hostility by the anti-people forces who have rigged elections and destabilized governments to seize power and exploit the People and the Provinces of the country. The social and living standards of the people are pathetic. While poverty decreased under the PPP government, poverty has increased over the years, as reported by the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2007. Quaid-e-Awam made education compulsory for children, and built schools, colleges and universities. He took the literacy rate up to 26% where it stagnated for a decade. Then Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was elected and the literacy rate doubled to over 50%. After the dismissal of the PPP government in 1996, education once again stagnated.

What is to be done?
The PPP promises change through
• Employment
• Education
• Energy
• Environment
• Equality

The PPP believes in every individual’s right to food, clothing, housing and an adequate
livelihood. Our commitment to the people of Pakistan is that their basic rights are our
responsibility. The Party has, and will always, strive for the rights of the People.
The PPP slogan is Ilm, Roshni Sab Ko Kaam, Roti Kapra Aur Makaan, Maang Raha Hai Har Insaan.

Why choose the PPP?
It is not just an election between the PPP and other parties. It is a clash of sharply competing values and ideologies. The PPP is a Party truly born out of the hearts and minds of the workers, peasants, small business, and the vast majority of citizens who support the Islamic spirit of tolerance and social justice, and not a Party that is born out of backroom deals in agency offices. We are the Party that derives its strength from each and every section of a pluralistic society We are the Party whose philosophy is rooted in combining sustainable economic growth with social justice We are the Party that recognizes that this is a moment to consolidate all the forces that subscribe to the true spirit of Islam, and fundamental values of federalism and democracy.

The Mission Before Us
The PPP’s mission is to transform the lives of our people from one of despair and poverty into one of hope and opportunity through employment, education, energy, environment and equality. We have a clear and coherent vision of what needs to be done and will muster all the resources to get it done. We will take a new approach marked by a determination to challenge the threats and not ignore them. We renew our commitment to build a hopeful future for the poverty stricken. We will strive for a Pakistan where all, rather than some, live in comfort and plenty. We will strive for a Pakistan where everyone is included in the expanding circle of development. We will, with vigour and determination, assure basic needs for all citizens We will strive to have a responsive, responsible and representative government at all levels. Social and Economic Justice is the defining objective of the PPP’s policy framework. We will reduce social and economic inequalities between various classes, between Provinces, within Provinces, and Genders, establishing a just society. National policy frameworks have, to date, accorded primacy to economic policy goals, with social policy goals not pursued aggressively. Even within economic policy-making, Employment has not been a major objective. Resultantly, social and human development indicators have continued to lag behind woefully. The very objective of Development has remained unfulfilled.

The Pakistan Peoples Party proposes to reverse the order of priorities; whereby social policy objectives drive economic policy. Development shall be measured in terms of the welfare of the people, rather than in terms of financial statistics that do not reflect the state of the nation. Employment and Social and Human Development shall be specific targets in policymaking and economic policy measures will be geared to achieve social goals. The twin menace of Inflation and Unemployment are to be specifically tackled.

The PPP will help individuals set up small businesses and provide the framework for a
vibrant middle class. It will address the basic needs of low-income persons.

GROWTH WITH EQUITY
PPP governments since 1967 gave birth to boom economies. In its last tenure, the PPP tripled economic growth rates, doubled taxation receipts and took agricultural growth rates from zero to seven percent annually. It reduced the budget deficit and paid off principal debt while investing in a massive socio-economic program. The PPP, as a modern and moderate Party, attracted four times more direct private sector investment in three years than all of Pakistan’s previous governments, creating jobs and wealth for the people of Pakistan. The PPP computerized the State Bank of Pakistan and the Stock Market, introduced the National Identity Cards scheme and deregulated,decentralized and privatized the economy. The PPP power projects and mass telephone system enabled ordinary people to set up businesses when previously power shutdowns and twenty year delays for telephones prevented them from success in private initiatives. Open Minds, Open Markets, Open Opportunities is our slogan as we change IOUs into MOUs. We believe that markets, not missiles, are the measure of might. The PPP Government will accelerate growth, for only with high growth can the social policy objectives of poverty reduction and high employment be achieved.

The key pillars of the equitable and pro-poor growth agenda comprise:

Rapid Economic Growth;
Combating Unemployment;

Targeted Poverty
Programs;

Just Labour Policies;

Private Sector as Engine of Growth;

Accelerating Agricultural and Rural Growth, and Ensuring Water Security and Energy Infrastructure.
 

Rapid Economic Growth
PPP will be a fiscally responsible government, ensuring that taxpayers get their full value for the taxes they pay.

A Sound Debt Policy
We will ensure that we do not burden future generations with excessive debt. With that in mind, we will ensure that domestic and external debt is maintained at sustainable levels.
 

PPP was the first government in the history of Pakistan to retire Pakistan’s principal debt through the proceeds of privatization. The PPP will stop raising domestic and foreign debt for wasteful projects and use the fiscal space provided by the rescheduling of loans and the international assistance for fighting the war against terrorism for the national benefit. Where needed, the PPP will aggressively seek to use the fiscal space to retire expensive domestic and foreign debt. The aim of the PPP is to make Pakistan into a self respecting, self reliant nation whose citizens are honored universally.

Containing Inflation
High Inflation is a major economic problem of Pakistan, especially hurting the low income groups. At the macro level, containing inflation will be achieved through prudent Monetary and Fiscal Policies. In addition, the following specific measures will be considered:

• Special steps to increase production of food grains, including creating an enabling
environment so that greater private sector credit flows towards these sectors.
• Enhancing competition, in both manufacturing and domestic trade, and reducing supply chain constraints so that costs of essential goods are reduced. To this end, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) will be strengthened to unleash competitive forces, and aggressively combat monopolies and cartels
• Create effective institutions at Federal, Provincial and District levels to monitor
supply positions of essential commodities to ensure prompt remedial measures.
• Maintain strategic stocks of wheat and other essential commodities to overcome shortages, while ensuring that fiscal costs are manageable and waste/corruption is eliminated.

Establishing a Fair Tax System
The Party is determined to overhaul the taxation system and bring about changes which will lead to fair practices, rational tax slab, curtailment of discretionary powers and growth of business and industry. The tax system will be made taxpayer friendly so that voluntary compliance is enhanced. The PPP commits itself to rationalizing the taxation system so that the burden of tax on the poor and low income groups is reduced, while at the same time Tax/GDP ratio is increased. PPP recognizes that Tax/GDP needs to be increased to provide adequate resources for providing good quality services to all people and for Pakistan to have the necessary infrastructure to sustain high growth. To that end, bold initiatives will be taken emphasizing better collection and expanding the tax net, especially to those that can afford to pay.

Combating Unemployment
The PPP will put in place bold and innovative programs to create jobs in the public and private sector. PPP fully recognizes that high growth will be the main driver of Full Employment. At the same time, the PPP will establish programs to help those who are unable to find gainful employment. A four-pronged strategy will be used to provide
income earning opportunities to the poor as well as unemployed youth.

The strategy comprises:
Public Works Programme (PWP)
A labour-intensive PWP will be put in place so that there is guaranteed employment, of at least one year, to one working member of the poorest 25 per cent families of Pakistan.

The PWP will expand labour-intensive civil works in infrastructure, sanitation, road works, water and irrigation; with a view to providing large-scale employment in rural and urban areas. These schemes will be community driven and managed.

Literacy and Health Corps (LHC)
Unemployment amongst educated youth has assumed alarming proportions. With twin objectives of providing short-term employment to educated youth, and to assist with social policy goals, a Literacy and Health Corps Scheme will be established. Under the scheme, there will be an employment guarantee of two years to all youth completing Intermediate, Graduation and Post- Graduation in a given year. A large proportion of
the jobs will be in the social sectors (elementary education and basic health-care) and will form part of the PPP’s program for the expansion of social services. This will constitute a basic literacy and health corps in the service of the Nation.

Vocational Training
The PPP will put in place programs, which offer the youth Vocational Education and Technical Training in those service sectors where there is a shortage in the market.

Microfinance
The PPP government under Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto introduced microfinance institutions in Pakistan to provide self employment. This program will be doubled. Appropriate microfinance policy and institutional reforms will be put in place so that Commercial Banks, Micro-Finance institutions and NGOs aggressively increase their
outreach to meet the goal of 5 million beneficiaries on a sustainable basis.

Targeted Poverty Programs
The PPP is committed to assist those that are bypassed by growth and development, especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged. It will put in place a comprehensive Targeted Anti-Poverty Program, comprising the following strands:
• Conditional Cash Transfers, which transfer cash subsidies to poor families in return for
sending children (especially girls) to school and getting children inoculated.
• Strengthening and expansion of social protection programs, such as Zakat, Social
Security, Baitul Mal, worker-retraining and mobility
• Special Program for the least developed (lowest 50%) Districts to improve access to social services
• The PPP will look after the senior citizens of our land; amongst other measures, we will provide financial support to all Senior Citizens above the age of 65 years who have no source of income.
• The PPP will establish a database of the poorest 25% of families, so that these programs can be properly targeted. Just Labour Policies For high levels of Employment, equitable growth is crucial and Pakistan needs to have a labour policy that is in line with the ILO standards.

To protect the basic rights of workers, the PPP will initiate the following policies:

• The Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002 will be reviewed to bring it in conformity with the ILO Conventions, ratified by Pakistan, and Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.
• The EOBI and other labour welfare programs will be strengthened and Public-Private Partnerships established, so that labour and their families have access to quality education, health care and affordable housing.
• Review of the President's Special Powers of Removal from Service Ordinance 2000 with regards to trade union activities.
• Elimination of child labour, forced labour and bonded labour, and education and rehabilitation of those children once withdrawn from the workplaces.
• Enforcement of statutory labour laws, through effective inspection systems.
• Regularly holding National Tripartite Labour Conference to formulate labour, economic and social policies and to devise mechanisms for their effective implementation with a view to promoting social justice, decent work and raising the dignity of labour.
• Developing a safety culture for making work safe and prevention of accidents at workplaces and occupational diseases of workers. Minimum wage will be enhanced to meet the escalating needs of labour.|

Private Sector as Engine of Growth
The PPP is committed to ensuring that Private Sector and export-led development will be the main engine of growth. The government will embark on an aggressive Investment Climate Reforms Programme to establish a favourable and enabling environment so that all businesses, foreign and domestic, flourish. The Party will improve the investment climate especially for Small and Micro- Businesses, initiate programs to reduce cost of doing business and increase Pakistan’s competitiveness, streamline government business interface through aggressive deregulation, and seek Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in export manufacturing. The Pakistan Peoples Party will confine the role of the Public Sector in Health, Education and Infrastructure. The role of the State will be restricted only to those areas where the Private Sector is not forthcoming. A special program will be developed to attract the financial resources and special skills of Pakistani Diaspora and overseas workers, with a view to contribute to the national development efforts. Privatisation was introduced by the first government of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, elected in 1988.

This will be continued in a transparent manner, ensuring that labour is a beneficiary of the process. The PPP will vigorously pursue a policy of diversification of industrial exports and manufactured products. The emphasis will be on adding value to primary products and raw materials. The PPP Government will provide market-based and fiscally affordable incentives to develop non-traditional exports. We will also provide incentives to raise the level of technology in our industries An important pillar of our private sector development will be an aggressive program to foster and encourage Small and Medium Enterpries (SMEs), recognizing that these provide the bulk of employment. Programs and Policies will be put in place to reduce the regulatory burden on SMEs and enhance the voluntary flow of credit to these businesses.

Accelerating Agriculture and Rural Growth
Agriculture is the mainstay of the National Economy of Pakistan. As a farmer-friendly party, the PPP will help farmers boost production and obtain fair prices. Farmers got the best prices when the PPP was in government. The key to agricultural exportable surpluses is to augment the output per acre and productivity per farmer Aggressive Agriculture and Rural Development will be another central pillar of our growth and poverty reduction strategy. Our efforts will be focused on improving productivity and crop diversification, agricultural markets and exports, and special programs for small farmers to reduce risks faced by them. Moreover, with advances in technology the desert can be made green. The Pakistani peasant, mired in poverty and debt has to be rescued from the morass of despair by a bold policy which ensures that the private sector provides key inputs and services -such as credit, fertilizer, pesticides, extension, marketing, seeds, tractors-in a timely manner and at competitive prices. Special attention would be given to encouraging Banks to expand rural lending, while maintaining sound credit policies. Special capacity-building programs for agricultural support services will be put in place to revitalize key institutions of research and extension.

A sustainable program of farm to market roads will be put in place to ensure that perishable and valuable agricultural products like fruits; vegetables and milk can reach markets to enable better incomes for farmers and for the benefit of urban consumers. Peoples Party commits itself to providing all surplus electric power during off peak hours for tube-wells free of cost

Ensuring Water Security
The PPP government is committed to ensuring water security for irrigation and availability of clean drinking water Pakistan is now a water scarce country. Scarcity will increase with time, with a burgeoning population and climate change. The PPP will put in place a bold and comprehensive program to ensure water security for future generations. Key elements of the strategy would consist of: water conservation, additional storages, farmer-managed irrigation systems, rehabilitation of the ageing canal and barrage system, an effective drainage system, enhancing water productivity, strengthening water rights and protecting the lower delta eco-systems. In respect of the Arid Zones, a program will be developed to harness water from rain and flash floods, promote drip irrigation and crops that need less water. Clean drinking water is a basic need. The PPP shall create a legal framework to ensure availability of clean drinking water for all.

Ensuring Energy Infrastructure
The consumption of electricity is an index of economic prosperity. Pakistan’s per capita electricity consumption is about one tenth of the world average. The last power station established in the public sector was the PPP’s Ghazi Barotha 1450MW hydro electric power project which went online in 2004. The PPP also obtained a 500 MW nuclear power station at Chasma. The PPP government inducted over 5000MW of private power generation, ending shutdowns. Now Pakistan needs another 8000 MWs by 2010 to meet the energy requirements of the people. This will be met by utilising coal, solar, hydro and wind power. The PPP is committed to establishing a comprehensive and credible program that ensures Energy Security and Adequacy of Supply. Key elements would include: maximum use of indigenous water and hydrocarbon resources, energy conservation, proper pricing to ensure proper use while protecting the life line consumers. Specific actions and interventions will include encouraging and attracting private sector energy projects, fast tracking of exploration and development of indigenous hydro carbon resources, including the Thar coal project, accelerating development of alternative energy, including wind and solar energy, reviving the Keti Bunder project, establishing an energy corridor from Central Asia to Balochistan, and a sustainable program to bring energy to the doorstep of the poor.

Fisheries
The PPP will establish programs that will provide training and micro-credit facilities to the fisher folks and ensure proper facilities, infrastructure to increase export potential of this sector in keeping with international standards.

Growth-Inducing Transport Infrastructure
Development
The PPP will develop and implement a national transport development program, to sustain high growth, improve access to rural areas and to reduce internal logistics costs and downtime, especially for exports. In particular, it would establish a world class North South Transport corridor.

MEETING BASIC NEEDS
Empowerment and Social Change will be another cornerstone of the PPP’s Agenda for change. Using the full resources of the Government, Private Sector and Community Organizations, a social transformation program will be ushered.

Education
The Peoples Party built 48,000 schools in its two tenures between 1988 to 1996; it recruited and trained 100,000 teachers in three years alone, thereby doubling literacy.

The PPP increased the education budget by many billions in its last two recent tenures of power, a testimony to the top priority it gives to education. The PPP commits to its sons and daughters of Pakistan an education system that enables a brighter future than that of their parents so that they can hold their heads high in the comity of Nations.

Quaid-e-Awam introduced free and compulsory primary education, promoted Centres of Excellence, created Institutes of Science and Technology and took Pakistan to the cutting edge of Nuclear Physics, establishing centres of Nuclear Medicine. He set up a chain of new Universities, Medical and Engineering Colleges in the neglected areas as a harbinger to a Muslim Renaissance. The PPP will focus on providing computers progressively for every Secondary School and College in Pakistan. The Party will install at least one computer in each School so that the new generation can enter the digital age. To universalize basic education, every child in government primary schools will be provided a stipend. Universal enrolment by 2015 of all children between the ages of 5 to 10 is the target of the Party.

The Pakistan Peoples Party believes in providing quality higher education in all regions of Pakistan through both Public and Private Sector Colleges, Universities and Institutes. The quality of existing Colleges and Universities will be improved and the number of Public Universities and Colleges, particularly in Science and Engineering, Medicine and Agriculture will be increased. Funding will be regulated and monitored through Quality Assurance Boards of the Higher Education Commission. Funding to Private Sector Universities will be enhanced through a competitive programme.

Madrassah Reforms
We are in the process of sowing the seeds of national disintegration of a new generation of alienated young people bred on hate and paranoia. Educational extremism thus represents the greatest danger to Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of the federation.

The funding of groups during Afghan Jihad of the ’80s has led to the rise of political madrassahs. Many of them are not schools but irregular army recruitment centres for militants as well as arm depots holding rocket launchers and Kalashnikov guns. No militia will be allowed to seek refuge under the name of madrassahs for militant activities. Madrassahs will be reformed to be Madrassahs that impart knowledge to children The PPP had planned to build ‘Apna Ghar’ (Our Home) as a free boarding school for socially or economically disadvantaged children. The plan initially adopted by the PPP in the budget of 1996, but dropped by subsequent governments, will be revived.

Student Militancy The PPP will lift the ban on Student Unions as it has done in all its tenures. It will not permit arms on campus.

Health of the Nation
All PPP Governments have made health a high priority, believing that the welfare of People flows from investing in the health of the people. Basic Principles of the Health Policy are: First, the Guarantee of Access to a Doctor for every Citizen of Pakistan via a National Health Service; Second, the Prevention of Disease; Third, the Guarantee that Affordable Medicines are available to the sick and needy; Fourth, the provision of good.

Medical Education and Training.
The Lady Health Workers (LHW) programme initiated by the PPP government has been the most successful initiative in the preventive health sector in the last two decades; it increased contraceptive prevalence and reduced mother and child mortality ratios. The PPP will further consolidate this programme and take the number of LHWs up to 200,000 in the next 5 years, extending it to Katchi Abadis in urban areas. A scheme for inducting 10,000 male health workers will be introduced in parts of NWFP and Balochistan. The party will initiate a media campaign on various aspects of preventive health measures to increase awareness on health, safe motherhood, hygiene and nutrition. Access to quality drugs has eluded the poor citizens of this country. The Pakistan Peoples Party will initiate a pro-people Drugs policy for the Public Sector Health System and maintain prices within the reach of the common man for the WHO- approved list of 300 essential drugs. The PPP will introduce competitive measures to ensure parity with regional price levels. As in other Muslim Countries, including Iran, Bangladesh and Indonesia, Pakistan aims to protect the health and care of both Mother and Child through Planned Parenthood.

Census
The PPP will hold a census every ten years and ensure that the Census results are accurate, enabling resource distribution equitably in the country.

Human Settlements
Historically, Town Planning is a concept developed by the ancient Indus Valley
Civilization. To keep up with its glorious legacy, the PPP will invest in providing clean drinking water, sanitation and planning. The Pakistan Peoples Party will set up a Human Settlements Commission to prepare a Master Plan of Human Settlements for the Whole Country including the needs for housing, roads, parks and playgrounds.
The Pakistan Peoples Party will assist Provincial and District Governments with establishing liveable cities and human settlements. The urban degradation that is taking place will be reversed with the provision of resources and capacity support.

Housing Policy
A house for every family is a key part of the PPP slogan Maang Raha Hai Har Insaan, Roti Kapra Aur Makaan. A comprehensive and credible program will be developed and implemented to enable low and middle income families to own their own homes. Such a program will comprise releasing government urban land, changes in zoning and land titling, changes in foreclosure laws, provision of long-term credit which is sustainable, and establishment of needed institutions, in the Private and Public Sector, to make the dream of home-ownership a reality for the masses.

Empowerment of Women
The Pakistan Peoples Party has an unflinching commitment to the cause of Gender Equality ever since it was founded in 1967. It is also the only Party in Pakistan that is headed by a Woman. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the first elected Woman Head of Government in the Muslim World.

• The Party shall enunciate a national employment policy for Women, facilitating job creation and Women's participation in the economy. The 10% affirmative action job quota for Women in public service initiated by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s government will be increased to 20%.
• Effective legislation to enable legal ownership of assets and resources for Women will be enacted to facilitate their financial independence.
• The Party will take institutional initiatives to prevent crimes against Women in the name of tribalism, such as honour-killings and forced marriages.
• Family Courts will be presided by Women Judges to hear Family Law Cases. Right of Maintenance and child custody according to law will be implemented.
• Women will be appointed to the superior judiciary.
• Ministry of Women Development will be part of important policy-making bodies to ensure that gender priorities are reflected in all policy initiatives.

Human Rights
As the Party that introduced a Ministry for Human Rights, the PPP will respect the life, liberty, property, livelihood and right to freedom of association, expression and movement of every citizen. It will honour the International Human Rights Declaration in both letter and spirit. The PPP will protect the rights in particular of the weak and oppressed, the discriminated and the downtrodden.

Minorities
To uplift and empower minorities, a job quota for minorities in the services of Pakistan, including the operational services like Army, Police, Intelligence Agencies, Judiciary and Foreign Affairs will be allocated. An independent permanent National Commission for Religious Minorities will be instituted, with the powers of Tribunals which can entertain complaints and provide redress on urgent basis. Minorities will be given administrative control of their places of worship and a person belonging to a minority group will be made head of the Evacuee Trust Property Board. The statutes that discriminate against religious Minorities, and are sources of communal disharmony, will be reviewed.

Information and Media
The Pakistan Peoples Party recognizes that a Free and Vibrant Press is the greatest guarantor against tyranny and oppression. In accordance with this principle, the PPP liberated the Press in 1988 by allowing free import of newsprint, the abolition of government permission to establish newspapers and journals, and by introducing
Private Radio and Television Stations. Each ministry will set up its own media cell to put across the point of view of the Ministry. Journalists from the private sector will be eligible for induction on contract basis and on competitive market rates. A Press Complaints Commission will be established on the basis of the British system of Press Complaints. The Private Sector will be allowed to freely establish television and radio stations subject to their operating within a legal framework. FM stations licenses will be given to the Political Parties.

Information and Communication Technologies
The PPP heralded the information age into Pakistan with color television, fax machines, emails and satellite television. It laid fibre optic lines in 1989 and digitalized telecommunications. In 1993, it began computer literacy programs to herald the computer literate generation. Software technology parks were to be established in the major cities by the PPP. The PPP fully supports the United Nations Information and Communication Technology Task Force (UNICTF) goals. Working with the UN, the PPP will create an enabling environment to map UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We believe that ICTs play an important role in development, poverty reduction, empowering women, reducing gender gap and communicating and practicing democratic values. We will replicate the best practices in Pakistan and will develop a comprehensive e-Government Strategy. The PPP will implement an ICT policy and program to bridge the digital divide and to enable Pakistan to join the ranks of world leaders in IT. A comprehensive program will include:
expanding telecommunications bandwidth capacity, expand training institutions for IT professionals, promotion of IT and software exports.

Science and Technology
The PPP gave the best science and technology institutions to the country. Science and Technology Hubs will be established in major urban areas, much like the science cities in the developed world.

Culture
The Pakistan Peoples Party will promote National Heritage and Culture of Pakistan. We will increase funding for the Arts, and support artists and their institutions.

Environment
We have inherited the earth to nourish and treasure, not to plunder and destroy.
The PPP will follow environment-friendly policies to build a cleaner, healthier environment for our children. Curriculum on environment will be introduced in schools.
The PPP supports the Kyoto protocol on climate change. The PPP will accelerate programs which will ensure Clean Air, Land, and Water for All. The PPP will introduce CNG units in major cities to reduce vehicular pollution. The PPP will set up a new National Calamities and Disaster Management Authority and make the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA) an autonomous authority.

GOOD GOVERNANCE
Magna Carta of Pakistan The Pakistan Peoples Party reaffirms its
commitments to implement the Charter of Democracy; the veritable Magna Carta of Pakistan. As early as 1949, the Public Representatives Officers Disqualification Act (PRODA) was used for the ulterior purpose of driving out the Stalwarts of Muslim Leaders from the arena of Politics. The scythe of the Electoral Bodies Disqualification Order of 1960 decapitated the entire Founding Fathers of Pakistan. Ziaul Haq promulgated the Martial Law Order 17 of 1977 in order to victimize and disqualify the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party. In the most heinous deed of our tormented political history, Ziaul Haq physically murdered his benefactor on April 4, 1979. The so-called accountability measures since 1996 were used to incarcerate Senator Asif Ali Zardari for eight long years, although he and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto were never sentenced for any crime. False cases were used in a conspiracy in an attempt to break their will to fight for the people of Pakistan and also to deceive the people of Pakistan about their legitimate democratic leadership. The Supreme Court of Pakistan rightly observed in 1958: “When politics enters the Palace of Justice, Democracy, its cherished inmate, walks out of the backdoor. A Judge’s duty in a given case is to adjudicate on the right or liability and this function he must discharge according to law. The Constitution entrusts the interests of the Country, in the appointment of a Prime Minister, to the members of the Parliament and if the country is ruined by the wrong choice of a Prime Minister, the responsibility is that of the people and their representatives and not of the Judge. The Judge’s duty is to administer the law and not to lay down the moral or political standards for the choice of a Prime Minister.”

The Charter consists of the following 36 points in brief:
1. The 1973 Constitution as on 12 October 1999 shall be restored save for the provisions of Joint Electorates, reserved seats for Minorities and Women, lowering of the voting age to 18, and increase in seats in Parliament.

2. The appointment of Governors, three service Chiefs and the CJ SC shall be made by the Prime Minister who will be the Chief Executive.

3. The appointments of Judges to Superior Judiciary will be made with the advice and consent of a Joint Parliamentary Committee consisting of equal representatives of the Treasury and the Opposition on the recommendation of a Commission headed by former Chief Justice who has not taken oath under the PCO.

4. A Federal Constitutional Court with equal representation to each Federating Unit will resolve Constitutional issues.

5. The Concurrent list will be abolished.

6. Reserved seats for Women will be allocated in proportion to percentage of votes polled by each contesting Party.

7. The strength of the Senate will be increased.

8. FATA will be merged into NWFP in consultation with the Tribal Areas.

9. Northern Areas will be given a Special Status and Empowerment.

10. Local Body elections will be held on Party Basis.

11. National Security Council will be abolished and replaced by Defense Committee headed by the Prime Minister.

12. The “ban” on Third term for Prime Minister will be scrapped.

13. Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be established.

14. Politically motivated NAB will be abolished and replaced by an Independent Accountability Commission whose Chairman will be appointed jointly by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition with the advice and consent of Joint Parliamentary Committee with parity between Treasury and the Opposition parties.

15. The Media will have freedom of access to Information regulated by Law.

16. The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee will be appointed by the respective Leaders of the Opposition in the House.

17. Nuclear Command and Control will be placed under the Defense Committee of the Cabinet.

18. The future of Kashmir will be determined according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir and UN Resolutions.

19. Good Governance will include quality Health, Universal Education, Price Stability Employment Generation and Austerity by Government Officials.

20. Women, Minorities and under-privileged will be provided equality of opportunity.

21. Electorate mandate will be respected and extra constitutional ways will not be adopted for undermining the rights of the Government or Opposition.

22. Signatories to the Charter will not join Military regimes or sponsored Governments.

23. All indirect elections will be by open ballots.

24. All Military and Judicial Officers will file annual statements of Wealth and Income.

25. National Democracy Commission will promote Democratic Culture.

26. Terrorism and militancy will be vigorously confronted.

27. Impartiality and independence of the Election Commission will be guaranteed.

28. Elections will be held on a level-playing field.

29. Local Body Elections will be held within three months of General Elections.

30. Neutral administrators will be appointed by the Competent Election Authorities during the Conduct of elections.

31. Elections will be conducted by a neutral Caretaker Government.

32. All Security Agencies including ISI and MI will be answerable to the elected Prime
Minister.

33. All indemnities promulgated by military regimes will be reviewed.

34. Defense Budget will be placed before and approved by Parliament.

35. Military Land and Cantonments will be controlled by the Ministry of Defense.

36. Rules of Business will be reviewed to conform to Parliamentary Traditions.
Provincial Autonomy

The Pakistan Peoples Party proposes to establish a true Federal Democracy in theory and practice by enacting the following reforms in order to make Provincial Autonomy meaningful. The unanimous Constitution of 1973 authored by Quaid-e-Awam introduced Provincial Autonomy to the Country’s Federal System. The PPP will take the following measures:

• The Concurrent Legislative List will be abolished.
• Provinces will be given their due share in their Natural Resources.
• Distribution criteria for NFC award will take into account contribution to revenues,
geographic size, backwardness and level of development as well as population.
• The Natural Gas rates and Royalty formula will be as determined by the Constitution of 1973.
• All Companies engaged in exploration and extraction of Natural Resources will be
required to train local people and allocate funds for social development.
• Provinces will be given part of the sale proceeds in the sale of federal assets in their
province.
• Octroi will revert to local governments and be collected by them.
• Sales tax will be progressively returned to Provinces.

Local Government
The Pakistan Peoples Party believes in a three tier system of Government: Federal, Provincial and Local. Each will enjoy autonomy and function under the law.
 

The system of Local Government introduced by the military regime, which has been manipulated for political ends, will be revamped to bring it in line with the Party’s Devolution Plan. Primary Education, Basic Health, Water Supply, Sanitation and Population Welfare will be looked after by the Local Governments. The Deputy Commissioner will perform the functions of the DCO. Local Government will be based on modern patterns such as those that exist in the established democracies of the world. Caretaker district governments would be established during elections.

Civil Service Reforms
No modern state can function without an impartial, honest and efficient bureaucracy. The Pakistan Peoples Party will initiate the implementation of broad-based Civil Service Reforms. Security of service, fixed tenures, merit based appointments, barriers to lateral entry and a ban on inductions from other state institutions are required for an effective bureaucracy. Training of civil servants will be conducted to make the Civil Services citizen-friendly and responsive to the needs and demands of the public.

Police Reforms
The PPP government will embark on a meaningful Police Reforms Program. The aim of the reforms will to provide security to citizens by creating a crime-free society. The PPP will be tough on crime and the causes of crime. It will foster a professional police force owing allegiance to the Constitution and rule of law, and stop the practice of using the police force for political purposes. The PPP will expand law enforcement and equip
it with modern means to combat crime and maintain security. A strong police force is necessary to combat the forces of internal terrorism. In the previous PPP Government, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto instituted a revolutionary programme of Women's Police Stations headed by Women Police Officers to encourage Women to report crimes of domestic abuse. This highly successful program was dismantled by subsequent administrations. It will be immediately reconstituted under the PPP government.

Prison Reforms
The PPP prison reforms aim at reforming prisoners enabling them to integrate into society as responsible citizens. The concept of hard and rigorous labour will be abolished. Prisoners will be encouraged to take classes to learn skills and earn points towards good behavior early release. They will be paid proper wages for work undertaken and be entitled to purchase facilities for themselves including television, computers and other products. Common rooms will provide Internet access to selected sites as well as reading material in libraries. Medical attention will be given promptly. Proper seating arrangements for interviews will be made. Prisoners will have the right to make available transport for going to Court hearings in the event of vehicle shortage. Prison administrations will be given rules within which to function and will be autonomous in their functioning. An Ombudsman will be appointed to hear complaints of Prisoners against the violation of jail rules. Female prisoners will be housed in separate quarters and looked after by female staff. No male staff will be permitted entrance to the female quarters. Female quarters will have similar facilities as male quarters with additional childcare areas.

Rule of Law
The basis of a civilised society lies in the rule of law. In developed countries, those who undermine the majesty of law go to prison. In our country, too often the victims of those who perpetuated injustices are sent to prison. Each elected leader of Pakistan left office brutalized and criminalized while none of the military dictators paid a price even when they disintegrated the Nation and mutilated the Constitution. When the state apparatus perverts the course of justice, evil consequences flow which undermine the premise on which civilized society can be based. The PPP will establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate how the so-called National Accountability Bureau tried to pervert the course of justice by torturing witnesses to commit perjury and wasted national resources to politically re-engineer Pakistan. Judicial Reforms The Pakistan Peoples Party is committed to a neutral independent judiciary free of political manipulation. Justice must be fair and blind. From the lower courts to the Supreme Court, the PPP commits its government to a truly independent judiciary.

FATA Reforms
Quaid-e-Awam introduced development for the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the PPP Government, headed by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, continued those policies. The PPP will restore the authority of the Government in the Tribal Areas and stop the pro- Taliban forces from using its territory to mount attacks on eighbouring Afghanistan. The current situation in the FATA represents a clear danger to the national security. The military regime has given up Pakistan’s sovereign territory in the Tribal Areas to foreigners. Consequently, FATA has become a safe haven for militancy and extremism. The PPP will reclaim Pakistan’s territory and reassert the authority of the government The PPP will facilitate the extension of the Laws of Pakistan to FATA, including the Political Parties Act. As a first step, it will bring amendments in the Frontier Crimes Regulation to enable a right of Appeal to the Peshawar High Court and further to the Supreme Court of Pakistan against all convictions.

The seats in the NWFP Provincial Assembly will be enhanced to accommodate representatives from the FATA directly elected by adult franchise, according to the population of each Agency. The PPP will push forward schemes for the educational advancement and economic uplift of FATA, creating job opportunities, increasing quotas in Colleges, Universities and Government. In order to expedite investment and create obs, the FATA will be made into a tax-free zone on items manufactured in these areas.

Northern Areas
The PPP government will actively pursue policies that promote education, development, and peace in the Northern Areas.

PAKISTAN AND THE WORLD
The guiding principles of the Pakistan Peoples Party shall be the universal principles of peace, reciprocity and flexibility in its foreign relations. The Party is opposed to all forms of terrorism and seeks to build bridges in the world community and promotes inter-faith harmony after the polarities arising from September 11. The Party believes that civilizations and democracies do not go to war, and will not allow extremists to hijack a progressive agenda. The PPP will Endeavour to add depth and substance to Pakistan's relations with regional, economic and social organizations. The PPP believes in good neighborly relations with Afghanistan, India, Iran and the Peoples Republic of China. The Party also believes in further strengthening relations with the USA, Canada, European Union, Japan and the Commonwealth. Pakistan is at the hub of Central Asia, the Gulf and the GCC, hence the PPP will provide a fresh impetus to the trade and cultural ties with these regions. Our special relations with Bangladesh will be strengthened.

Self-Determination
The Pakistan Peoples Party supports the right of self-determination for all people. Kashmir The Pakistan Peoples Party supports the rights of the Kashmiri people and will pursue the composite dialogue process agenda that it initiated with India including Kashmir and Indo- Pak issues. It will not allow lack of progress on one agenda to impede progress on the other The PPP, without prejudice to the UN Security Council Resolutions, supports open and safe borders at the Line of Control to socially unite the Kashmiri people. It notes that India and China have a border dispute and yet enjoy
tension-free relations.

Relations with India
The Simla Agreement of 1973 provides a framework for relations between the two Countries. It seeks to reduce tensions with India through peaceful negotiations to outstanding disputes and issues, and recalls the great progress in bilateral relations that took place under the government of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. During the December 1988 SAARC Summit, the proposal of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to transform SAARC from a cultural organization into an economic one was accepted by the SAARC countries. The PPP government will work for a regional economic framework for the countries of South Asia to benefit all its people through economies of scale. Such a regional economic group has the potential to turn into a global economic powerhouse, attracting investment, creating jobs and eliminating poverty.

Under Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's governments, the PPP has consistently pushed to replace the infrastructure of conflict with the architecture of peace.

The PPP believes that a prosperous Pakistan is a prosperous South Asia. Maintaining peaceful ties with India is imperative if we wish to achieve these goals. When elected to power, the PPP intends to tackle the social and economic malaise infecting the region by promoting an Asian Common Market that can attract investment, create jobs and build bridges of peace and trade through all of South Asia.

Afghanistan
Military dictators have used Pakistan's proximity to Afghanistan and its strategic importance to the world community to perpetuate dictatorship. The PPP will not allow Pakistan's territory to be used for cross-border terrorism against Afghanistan. The Party firmly adheres to the principle of non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs and favours no group, faction or tribe. The PPP government will engage the Afghan government for an overall understanding on border security, exchange of intelligence, flag meetings between sector commanders, exchange of information, and non-use of force in one another's territories. The PPP will seek to sign a Treaty of Peace and Cooperation with Afghanistan based on the following principles:

• Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
• Settlement of all disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration or judicial settlement.
• Promotion of mutual interests and cooperation.
• Respect for justice and international obligations.
• A commitment to the restoration of close cultural, economic and trade ties with
Afghanistan
• The PPP will set up joint working groups with Afghanistan to enhance and rationalize trade between the two nations.
• The PPP will commit its government to using its resources in Balochistan for the mutual benefit of the energy needs of Afghanistan and Pakistan's largest Province.
Terrorism Terrorism was born in the bowels of dictatorship, which recruited, trained, armed and financed extreme factions while marginalizing the moderate, democratic and pluralistic forces. History teaches us that Democracies do not wage war with each other nor do Democracies promote international terrorism. The PPP will dismantle militant groups who seek to take hostage the foreign policy of the country and impose their writ through force on the tribal areas of Pakistan and elsewhere. Distinctions between, and amongst terrorist groups will no longer be maintained.

Defense
The PPP believes that a sound economic base promotes a strong Defence. It seeks to identify Pakistan’s core Defence needs to enable the country to meet its defence targets. The educational curriculum in Defence institutes was prepared to train an officer cadre that could uphold the forces of military rule. That curriculum will be revised to ensure respect for Democracy, Democratic institutions and elected officials. In addition, all newly appointed Service Chiefs will be given a public oath of office, similar to the one taken at commissioning, prior to their taking up their assignment. The PPP gave Pakistan a strong defence to safeguard its territorial integrity and national independence. Quaid-e-Awam gave Pakistan the nuclear program to achieve nuclear parity with India. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto gave Pakistan missile capability to enable the country to deter aggression.

The PPP will ensure that our armed forces are amongst the best in the world in so that they earn the love and respect of the nation as a Defender of our Motherland free of political involvement and controversy

CONCLUSION: TOWARDS A NEW PAKISTAN
The Pakistan Peoples Party makes a sacred pledge to the people of Pakistan that it will lead our Nation to peace and prosperity. It will build a tomorrow better than any of the yesterdays we have known by following in the footsteps of our heroic leaders, Quaid-e-Azam and Quaid-e- Awam to build a federal, democratic, egalitarian Pakistan. The PPP believes that the key to the advancement of Pakistan lies in focusing on
employment, education, energy, environment and equality. From Khyber to Karachi, from the mountains that Alexander the Great crossed to the desert sands of Sindh where Mohammad Bin Qasim brought the Message of Islam, under the banner of Pakistan and the tri-colour flag of Quaid-e- Awam, there will be one nation, one leader, one mission, one program, one destination, and one voice reflecting the hopes, the desires, the wishes and the aspirations of our great people.

Ilm Roshni, Sab Ko Kaam Roti Kapra Aur Makaan Maang Raha Hai Har Insaan