Jang Economic Session: Parties urged to avoid politics on education, economy

LAHORE: All political parties should develop a consensus that there should be no politics on education and economy to develop a strong society. PTI’s 11 points have missed a number of areas, especially constitutional reforms and internal security.

These views were expressed by the speakers at Jang Economic Session (JES) on ‘how to implement 11 points of Imran Khan’. The panellists were Musrat Jamshad Cheema, Erum Shaheen Malik, Hussain Ahmed Sherazi, Muhammad Ali Mian, Rehman Aziz Chann and Umer Saleem while the session was hosted by Sikindar Lodhi.

Musrat Jamshad Cheema said implementation of 11 points of the PTI will ensure economic justice and growth targets. She said it seems that public was kept uneducated on a political agenda which needs to be discouraged now. She said majority of PTI members are educated youths and women who will play their role in economic growth on future. She said 11 points were not manifesto of the party. She called the CM to enforce one-dish regulations in public processions likewise marriages. She demanded women empowerment to contribute their share to national growth.

Erum Shaheen Malik said the PPP initiated women empowerment which was carried on by Shahbaz Sharif while PTI did not give importance to it. She said 11 points agenda of PTI was ineffective while the party should present its manifesto to public timely whereas the public was fed up with slogans against corruption. She said political parties’ rivalry is damaging the country globally and this should be end now. She said each party should put women empowerment in its manifesto and implement it.

Hussain Ahmed Sherazi said unfortunately politicians and political parties were least bothered about education while PTI’s focus on education in 11 points is appreciable as the country could not progress without education. He said 11 points could be helpful in economic growth and there was no harm to make new provinces for administrative purpose. He suggested Imran Khan should strengthen its team to implement the 11 points.

Muhammad Ali Mian said 11 points are not more than a political slogan. He said Imran Khan should improve KP situation by using its economic wizards while the PTI could not show performance. He said the PTI should present a shadow budget instead of pointing fingers at the government’s budget. He said every political party and the masses are equally responsible for economic situation. He said an increase in large scale manufacturing, GDP growth and reduction in power outages is success of the government irrespective all criticism.

Rehman Aziz Chann said all political parties have given same 11 points in their manifesto. He said important sectors were ignored in 11 points including constitutional reforms, internal security with top of the list. He said the PTI should also include defence budget, foreign policy, and the problem of isolation of Pakistan in international community in its priorities. He said the PTI performance in KP was not up to the mark. He said tax reforms were unavoidable for socio economic progress besides practical implementation for women empowerment.

Umer Saleem said focus on employment generation and human resource development would resolve the issues of terrorism and anarchy. He said a society could not be improved without quality education.