Tehreek-e-Insaf’s nine point industry policy

Party vows to restore confidence of investors; create 10 million new jobs for youth

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday unveiled its nine-point industrial policy, vowing to revive the industry by restoring confidence of investors and creating around 10 million new jobs for the youth.

“Industry in Pakistan is in dire straits due to a crippling energy crisis, lack of access to finance and shortage of skilled workforce. The PTI’s industrial policy aims at building solid foundations for the revival of industry by creating 10 million new jobs for the youth over the next five years and making the sector more viable and competitive in the international markets,” said Asad Umar while unveiling the party’s industrial policy.

Addressing the participants, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the country will no longer be in need of any foreign aid if his party is voted to power. He said the main focus of the PTI would be on human development and eradication of corruption from the country.

“Poverty has been increasing in the country due to rising corruption and the only solution to control inflation in the country is elimination of corruption through action against those involved in corrupt practices. We will ensure the supremacy of law after coming into power and PTI will not use army against the public,” said PTI chief. Poor law and order situation has compelled the investors to shift businesses from Pakistan, he added. “How can an investor come in a country where cricketers are not ready to play,” he argued.

Imran said his party will depoliticise the bureaucracy and will get rid of corruption culture as these had a direct link with inflation and the poverty. “The country can be made richer by recovering public money some corrupt leaders have kept in off-shore accounts,” he said, adding that only PTI can take this step because it leaders have all their assets within their own country.

Imran said his party needs just 90 days to restore the rule of law in the country. “Only those who are corrupt themselves cannot remove corruption from the country in 90 days,” he said, while making it clear that all the policies and decisions announced by the PTI were doable.

He said there was no dearth of talent in Pakistan but lack of skills had hampered development activities. “Our party’s main focus will be on skill development so that the Pakistani people can perform their best not only within their own country but also in foreign countries,” he said

The PTI chairman said his party is committed to eliminate electricity and gas shortage within its first term in office. “Fast-track gas import and equitable rationing of resources will help until new gas supply arrives. Provinces will have to play their role in developing indigenous energy resources and making Pakistan an energy secure state,” he added.

While announcing the policy, Dr Asad Umar said the government needs to take proactive measures to restore confidence of the investors, adding alternative dispute resolution mechanism needs to be developed to speed up contract enforcement.

“PTI Economic Policy has committed to reducing fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP, thus creating space for banks to lend to the industry and SMEs. We will set up specialised financial institutions to raise long-term capital for industry by focusing on developing vibrant debt and capital markets to fund investment spending,” said PTI leader. PTI will allocate land for special economic zones around every major urban centre to develop industries based on natural resource endowment, he said

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