KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – the party with the mandate of Sindh province’s urban population – on Monday unveiled its electoral manifesto for the May 11 general elections, DawnNews reported.

The party vows to resolve matters relating to the local government system upon assuming powers. The issue had played a decisive role in the separation of the coalition partners – MQM and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – both in Sindh and at the centre in February.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the manifesto, titled “empowering the people,” Deputy Convener of the MQM’s Rabita (coordination) Committee Dr Farooq Sattar said that his party will resolve the longstanding issue of the local government system if it assumes powers in the upcoming polls.

The manifesto mainly focuses on education, health and energy.

Sattar said the MQM government would pay extra attention on human progress, adding that the incumbent dual educational standards will be eradicated. “Standard of the Urdu-medium government schools will be raised up to the English-medium Schools and the educational budget will be increased,” he said.

The MQM leader said that health will be included as a mandatory right of the citizens in the social sector, adding that constitutional amendments will be carried out in this regard.

He said that steps will be taken for economic progress and the prices of petroleum products, electricity and natural gas will be reduced to overcome poverty and inflation.

The ‘indirect taxes’ will be stopped for that purpose, said Sattar.

He said that landowners and feudal lords will be brought into the national tax net and cooperative farming will be promoted and encouraged in the country.

“A national gas policy will be formulated in order to resolve the prevailing energy crises in the country…..priorities will be set for that,” said the MQM leader.