IN an encouraging development, despite recriminations, especially those relating to level playing field, political parties and their leadership have started adopting a serious approach to the electoral process as they are now talking about issues and problems confronting Pakistan and its people. The very fact that a record number of candidates have submitted nomination papers for the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies is an indication of growing interest in elections and the issue-based electioneering would give the electorate an idea about would-be policies and programmes of different parties and how they would affect their lives.
Among the political parties, PPP has a track record of its commitment to the cause of democracy, devolution and empowerment of the neglected segments of the society and the speech that its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari delivered on Monday at Bakhtawar Cadet College for Women at Shaheed Benazirabad was, in fact, reiteration of this approach. He vowed that if voted to power, the PPP would abolish seventeen ministries at the federal level to save a hefty Rs. 300 billion annually. Bilawal had a point when he highlighted that these ministries should have been abolished after the passage of 18th Amendment in the Constitution, The country can surely save money by doing away with ministries that have nothing to do at the federal level as the subjects in questions have been devolved to the provinces. It is strange that even after 13 years of devolution; such subjects should exist just to serve the agenda of vested interests. PPP’s plan to take away subsidies worth Rs. 1,500 billion from the elite class to provide relief to the poor is also the need of the hour. Similarly, government servants and workers have good memories of the PPP tenure when their salaries and minimum wages were increased significantly to compensate for the inflation. Bilawal has won hearts of the working class by pledging to increase the minimum wage from the existing Rs.35,000 to Rs. 70,000 per month in view of the record price-hike. He also made a commitment to provide free of cost electricity to those consuming up to 300 units per month. As PPP is highlighting its agenda, it is time other parties too should focus on these and similar other issues to give a better perspective to the electorate at the time of casting their votes.
