PTI announces its economic reforms plan

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday announced its economic plan in which it claimed to bringing reforms in governance, with priority to education and health sector.
PTI Senior Vice President Asad Umar presented the Economic Policy in a seminar titled Economic Policy Vision. PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other senior party leaders were also present.
The PTI leaders castigated the federal and provincial governments over what they said misplaced priorities, incompetence and greed.
“No effort has been made in the last five years to address the basic problems being faced by the citizens including the highest-ever sustained inflation, no jobs, a crippling energy crisis and deteriorating law and order. The failure of the state to look after its citizens comes at a very high price, with key human development and welfare indicators for Pakistan being worse then some of the poorest Sub-Saharan African states and lagging behind other countries in South Asia,” says a press statement issued by PTI at the end of seminar.
The PTI claimed that its reforms program would not only rescue the crumbling state but also meet the aspirations of the citizens, in particular the youth, for a sovereign welfare state.
Education reforms include one modern education system for all Pakistanis, increase in education spending five folds to Rs 2,195 billion by 2018 to achieve 80 percent enrollment. According to the PTI policy, it would focus on girls’ education by doubling the number of schools.
The party claimed that it would introduce a free health care system for the poor. Spending on health would be increased five folds to Rs 1,142 billion by 2018.
Energy reforms focus on reducing cost of producing electricity from indigenous resources. This will resolve the circular debt and make Pakistan an energy secure state. The details have already been announced through the energy plan announced earlier
The major expenditure reform would include shutting down the Prime Minister House, the Chief Minister’s and the Governor’s House.
The budget of the Presidency would be slashed by 50 percent and the ministries would be reduced to 17 from 37.
Free and subsidized plots would be abolished. All state departments including military would have to reduce spending and release funds for the welfare of the citizens. According to the plan, the PTI would convert lavish government-owned building into educational institutions.
All income groups would be taxed regardless of source and a just and equitable tax system would be put in place, a minimum asset tax adjustable against income already paid would be imposed.
Tax reforms also include ending ‘soft’ amnesty schemes. Provincial governments must take responsibility, collect property and agriculture tax from the large landholders. Revamp FBR and make it autonomous insulated from political pressures. Reforms will increase tax revenue to 15% of GDP in 2018 from 9.9 percent in 2012.
The party planned to carry out deep reforms that would make state institutions empowered, accountable and transparent. It planned to devolve power from the central and provincial capitals and empower local communities at the grass roots level. Special Task Force to recover looted national wealth stashed outside the country. All recovered assets of corruption will be used for educating the youth of Pakistan.
According to the PTI plan, the Railway Ministry, which had been facing losses of billions of rupees, would be abolished and the Railway would work under an autonomous board. While, the Pakistan International Airlines would also be taken out of the control of Ministry of Defence.