PTI led Government’s 100 Day

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government patted its back in a fancy ceremony in Islamabad over its achievements in first 100 days, while the lives of the people continue to be marred by inflation, water shortage and lack of job opportunities.

The government has been able to achieve only 18 of its 34 targets. Packed with musical performances, videos, and slideshows, the ceremony of the 100-day progress seemed like a sophisticated version of party’s rallies.

Prime Minister Imran Khan walked to the stage with Strings’ Main Toh Dekhoonga playing in the background. He started his speech by saying that the government’s main focus was the people. “We have tried to formulate policies which benefit the people. We want to improve relations with India, so that trade between the two benefits the people”.

While campaigning for the July 25 general election, Imran Khan had announced an ambitious 100-day plan. He promised that the government will meet its target at all costs. At the ceremony, Khan changed his stance a bit and said that a man can only try his best. “Success and failure depend on Allah.”

The real progress Pakistan has achieved seems to be the Memorandum of Understanding with 26 countries to recover looted wealth. “We have signed agreements with 26 countries, he said.

We have been able to trace $11 billion undeclared money of Pakistani in foreign countries. The government has been able to retrieve land worth Rs350 billion in anti-encroachment drives against the land mafia, he added.

Rest of the speech was followed by more promises to improve the country’s situation. He said that there was a dire need to improve the quality of government hospitals and schools as it leads to depravity. 

He laid down the plan for poverty alleviation in the country. A body will be formed to deal with issues such as housing, stunted growth, malnutrition among others. The premier spoke in-depth about utilising livestock to benefit farmers. We need to rear cows and give money to farmers to do so, he remarked. Pakistan plans to form disease-free zones to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. “We will venture into the field of shrimp farming too,” he said.

India and Bangladesh have gone to the International Monetary Fund only once. “Pakistan has gone to it 16 times,” he said. Pakistan needs to do four things for it to not seek IMF’s help; investment, exports, remittances and tax reforms.

He once again remarked that corruption has hindered Pakistan’s progress. “We don’t even know how rampant corruption was. Even I didn’t know it.” The country cannot progress until people are stopped from engaging in corrupt practices.

Khan addressed the opposition’s accusations of selective justice and reiterated that the accountability bureau does not work under the government. “It is an independent organisation. We are not responsible for the actions of NAB,” he said, adding that the bureau can function better. NAB has a conviction rate of only 7%, he pointed out.

Accrediting his wife, Bushra Begum, for his success, Khan said that she reminds him time and again that he is the prime minister.

The steps taken by the government to improve the lives of the people include securing $6 billion bailout package from Saudi Arabia, decreasing tax on oil prices, complaint portal for people, austerity drive, housing scheme to build five million houses, completing first phase of billion tree project and groundbreaking of Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims.

Economy

Finance Minister Asad Umar remarked that he will focus on three main points; what did we get, what have we done, where do we want to get. He used a cricket analogy to explain the situation of Pakistan’s economy. “Think of it this way: Captain has won and toss and decided to bat. I have been sent as an opener, the wicket is green top and there are clouds above the sky. There is invariable bounce and the ball is swinging too.” The previous government had even stopped the money of the widows of Pakistan Steel Mills’ employees, he remarked. “This was their situation.”

The PM is willing to take a U-turn for the betterment of the nation, Umar remarked.

Foreign policy

The previous government worked to strengthen the agenda of Pakistan’s neighbouring country, said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. “It didn’t even have a foreign minister for over 4 years.”

We decided to strengthen the foreign office by increasing communication and do functional diplomacy, he remarked. “We will form an advisory council comprising foreign policy experts.”

We held 16 multi-lateral discussions in 100 days. On the orders of the prime minister, we made a new foreign policy, he said. “Our first priority is to improve ties with the neighbouring countries. We told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah that we are ready to hear their concerns.”

He remarked: “We need peace in the region. We have a people-centric agenda. We want to bring investment to the country.” We need to have a peaceful relationship with Afghanistan and India to restore peace in the region. We continued our efforts to improve ties with India even after they cancelled a meeting with Sushma Swaraj. “Despite everything Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated Kartarpur corridor yesterday.”

PTI Achievements in 100 Days 

“It was very common in the past for parties to forget their manifesto, but we haven’t,” remarked PM Adviser Muhammad Shahzad Arbab. He said that the government has managed to achieve 18 of its 34 targets in  May . “We have been working in a transparent manner.”

1. Establish Asset Recovery Unit and Trace Unlawful Wealth: Task force to recover unlawful wealth established and functioning. Assets Recovery Unit set up in the PM Office and fully operational. Legal Assistance Bill 2018 finalised. Declaration of UK/Pakistan Justice and Accountability partnership. Update on work done by the taskforce published at the end of 100 Days
2. Draft Local Government Act of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and ICT: Review of Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab LG system with recommended improvements. Proposed blueprint for revamped LG system for Punjab, KP and ICT developed for review. Draft legislation to amend LG law in each province / ICT, and intended timelines for election published is still being worked on.
3. Legal Reforms to Revolutionalise Access to Justice: Civil Law and Criminal Law Reforms Taskforces created. Review of Civil Laws completed to recommend amendments to achieve expeditions and adjudication of Civil cases. Initiate draft legislation for Civil procedure. Initiation of Criminal Law reforms. Review of substantive laws completed and procedures in relation to issuance of letters and succession certificates. Legal Vetting of Disability, Corporal Punishment and Torture Bill. Finalisation of legislation for setting Legal Aid Authority under the Ministry of Human Rights.
4. Economic Support Package for Revival of Manufacturing Sector: Economic Support Package for Revival of Manufacturing Sector Announced (Finance Minister. Tariff Policy announced (Commerce Adviser). Backlog of refunds and rebates cleared (Finance Minister) in in progress
5. Naya Pakistan Housing Programme: Housing task force established. Policy framework developed is still being worked on.
6. Framework to establish National Tourism Board: Task force on tourism established. Private Sector investment framework is worked on.
7. FBR reforms roadmap: FBR Chairperson to be appointed (Adviser, Establishment). FBR Reform Blueprint to be developed and launched (Chairman, FBR). Tax Policy to be developed and announced (Finance Minister).
8. Ease of doing business: Economic Advisory Council appointed – Finance. Council of Business Leaders appointed – Advisor Commerce. “Ease of Doing Business” Strategy Developed and Published
9. National financial inclusion strategy implementation plan National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) working group. NFIS implementation plan developed and published. Plan to increase deposit base of banks developed and published
10. National Agriculture Emergency Programme on crops, livestock, fisheries, agriculture markets and conserving water: National agriculture emergency working group established. Complete National livestock emergency working group established
11. National Water Policy: Council of Common Interests meeting on national water. Task force established for the implementation of the National Water Policy
12. Education Blueprint: Federal / ICT strategy on Education developed and published, outlining federal role on education, in line with the 18^thamendment
13. Health Blueprint: Federal / ICT strategy on Health developed and published, outlining federal role in health, in line with the 18^thamendment
14. Social Protection Programme: Develop new programme to “Reduce Stunting” through the platform of BISP. Develop new programme on “Graduating Poor out of Poverty” through the platform of BISP. Expand education enrolment programme through BISP
15. Action Plan for Women and Girls in the Justice System: Consultations with stakeholders for development of action plan on criminal justice. Action plan on criminal justice developed and execution started. Awareness campaign on inheritance rights launched. Consultations with stakeholders for action plan on inheritance rights with Ministry of Human Rights. Action Plan on inheritance rights developed with Ministry of Human Rights.
16. Increase Pakistan’s regional and global relevance: Key foreign policy issues on which strategy needs to be reviewed by the PM prioritised. National positions, and plans of action on all key issues, and in particular on Kashmir, approved by the PM. Enhance Pakistan’s National Security
17. Launch 10 Billion Tree Tsunami: Restructure existing Task forces on Climate Change and Wildlife to drive Government’s Green Growth Agenda. 10 billion tree Tsunami launched. Urban tree Tsunami launched.
18. Clean Drinking Water Plan (ICT only): Options on clean drinking water developed for ICT. Plan developed and launched.