PTI promises to revive economy, eradicate corruption, create 10m jobs

Announcing the Industrial Policy of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Chairman Imran Khan on Monday promised that if voted to power, his government would jumpstart country’s economy by reviving the industrial sector and restoring the confidence of investors, while giving new jobs to 10 million youth through skill development programmes.

Addressing a ceremony on the occasion, Imran said the country would no longer need foreign aid if his party is voted to power. He said his government’s main focus would be on human development and eradication of corruption from the country. “Poverty has been increasing in the country due to rising corruption. The only solution to control inflation in the country is to eliminate corruption and to take action against those involved in corrupt practices. We will ensure the supremacy of law after coming into power and the PTI will not use the army against the public,” the PTI chief said, adding that poor law and order situation had repelled the investors from doing business in Pakistan. “How can the investor come in a country where cricketers are not willing to play,” said the cricket legend-turned politician.

He further said that his party would depoliticise the bureaucracy and eradicate the “corruption culture”, saying such problems had a direct link with inflation and poverty.

“The country can be made richer by bringing back the public money which corrupt leaders have kept in off-shore accounts,” he said, adding that only the PTI could take such steps because “this can only be done by those who have all their assets in their own country”.

He said that only 90 days were required to maintain rule of law in the country. “Those who are corrupt cannot remove corruption from the country,” he said, while making it clear that all the policies announced by the PTI were doable.

He said that Pakistan had the talent but lacked the skills. “Our party’s main focus will be on skill development so that the Pakistani people can perform their best not only for their own country but also in foreign countries,” he said.

Imran further said that the PTI was committed to eliminating the shortages of electricity and gas within its first term in the office by resolving the circular debt, moving to low-cost power generation and reducing line losses. “We will ensure fast-track gas import and equitable rationing of resources until new gas supply arrives. Provinces will have to play their role in developing indigenous energy resources and making Pakistan secure in energy,” he added.

Earlier, PTI leader Asad Umar unveiled the party’s nine-point Industrial Policy. Speaking on the occasion, he said: “The industry in Pakistan is in dire straits due to a crippling energy crisis and lack of access to finance and skill shortages. Hence the PTI Industrial Policy aims to build solid foundations for the revival of industry by creating 10 million new jobs for the youth over the next five years and to make the sector more viable and competitive in the international markets,” Umar said, while unveiling the Industrial Policy.

“PTI’s Economic Policy has committed to reducing fiscal deficit to 4.5 percent of the 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,” Umar said, adding that the PTI would allocate land for special economic zones around every major urban centre to develop industries based on natural resource endowment.

He said that the PTI Skills Development Strategy aimed at scaling up enrolment in technical skills to two million workers from the less than 0.3 million at present. “Technical skills for workers will not only boost individual income generation capacity but the productivity of the industry,” he added.

Senior party leaders including Jahangir Khan Tareen, Naeemul Haq, Ayla Malik, and Dr Israr Shah were also present on the occasion.