KARACHI: The state of the economy is so precarious that without entering into a ‘charter of economy’ no individual political party could overcome the issues, especially when the country will have to go for an IMF programme after the elections.

These views were expressed by MQM-P’s senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar while unveiling the economic agenda of his party at the Federation House here on Thursday.

Similarly, he said there was an urgent need for having a consensus over the National Action Plan as no political party had the capacity and knowledge to resolve the issues confronting the nation.

Dr Sattar also talked at length about “injustices” done against the urban dwellers of Sindh and how they were deprived of their share in resources on the basis of incorrect population figures.

The MQM-P leader presents economic goals of his party

“The actual population of Karachi is around 30 million,” he claimed.

He asked when the provinces were getting funds from the federal divisible pool on the basis of population then why the local and district governments were not receiving them on the same basis.

Unveiling MQM-P’s economic agenda, Dr Sattar said his party would go for land reforms and impose tax on agriculture income but before that they would try to enter into a charter of economy with other political parties.

About other measures, he added that his party would bring down the cost of doing business and promote small and medium enterprises to create around 200,000 jobs in Karachi and 500,000 in the rest of the province.

He further said the MQM-P would pay the huge amount of outstanding rebate belonging to the export sector so that their liquidity problems get resolved and exports increase.

“We will lower the tariff of utilities and cut prices of petroleum products,” he said, adding that small coal-run power plants and projects of alternative energy would also be taken up by his party.

“We also want to develop human resource, health and education sectors,” he added.

Dr Sattar said microfinance would be launched in line with Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank to provide finance to cottage industry and SMEs.

Talking about loss-making state enterprises, he said workers’ share would be introduced under public-private partnership in Pakistan Steel and PIA etc, and they will not be privatised completely.

Expressing his concern over the new wave of terrorism, the MQM-P leader said his party would introduce community policing which was the most effective way of controlling terrorism.

Talking about the drinking water issue, he said: “We launched 260mgd water projects in the past which were delayed by eight years. Work on them was finally started last year and I hope they will be completed by next year.

“If [it] comes to power, the MQM-P will go for 100mgd projects at a cost of Rs6 billion.”

The politician categorically stated that his party would not seek ministries if the PPP came to power; rather they would take up issues in the provincial assembly and if the ruling party ignored them, they would hold protests on roads.

When asked about the Pak Sarzameen Party, he said his party wanted to develop working relationship with all political forces.

He further said the MQM-P fully supported construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.

MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Khwaja Izharul Hassan also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2018