PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party has announced its 15-point election manifesto, top of which is restoration of peace, cordial diplomatic ties with neighbouring states, provincial autonomy, construction of at least 200 small dams and development of the hitherto neglected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The manifesto was unveiled by QWP general secretary Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli at a press conference here on Wednesday. QWP provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Sherpao explained various points of the manifesto.

Ms Tahirkheli said that restoration of lasting peace, improvement of diplomatic and trade relations with neighbouring countries, especially Afghanistan, and establishment of a trust for the victims of terrorism to overcome the lawlessness and bring an end to bloodshed in the region were top priorities of QWP.

Party promises construction of 200 small dams in poll manifesto

She said that the party would make all out efforts to get control of the province over local resources and get its due share in NFC award and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). She said that people of the erstwhile tribal areas suffered badly owing to prolonged militancy and her party would make efforts to enable them get their basic legal rights.

The QWP leader said that setting up industrial units on pattern of Gadoon Industrial Estates, provision of quality healthcare and standard education were need of the hour and her party had put them on top of the priorities’ list. She said that four per cent of the total budget would be spent on education to establish universities or sub-campuses in every district to increase literacy rate and special attention would be paid to female and transgender persons education if her party came into power.

Ms Tahirkheli promised legislation for restoration of student unions in educational institutions, implementation of laws to protect the venerable segments of society like minorities. The number of hospitals would be increased with setting up of four-room quality burns centers at divisional level hospitals and provision of free of cost medicines, she added.

She said that QWP would pay due attention to promotion of sports through public-private partnership by setting up sports complexes at district level. She said that special attention would also be given to promotion of Pakhtun culture, local and regional languages by establishing cultural centers at divisional level.

For the regional development, Ms Tahirkheli said that a high powered forum would be formed to check allocation of funds, monitor role of government departments and ensure improvement of communication system by reconstruction of highways, form to market roads and irrigation channels.

She said that at least 200 small dams would be constructed to overcome shortage of water and generate cheap hydel power.

She said that tourism would be promoted by provision of security to tourists and improvement of infrastructure in the newly merged tribal areas to enable people visit the scenic spots. She added that a taskforce would be set up to work on environment and climatic change.

The QWP leader said through effective legislation the rights of labourers would be protected and minimum wages would be fixed at Rs20,000.

She said that farmers would be provided with quality seeds at subsidised rate and they would be provided with machinery and equipment to increase the yield of various crops, fruits and vegetables in the province.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2018