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Friday, March 08, 2013PML-N will raise minimum wages to Rs 15,000
* Election manifesto says electricity load shedding to end within two years
Staff Report
LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday announced to raise minimum wages to Rs 15,000 after coming into power.
Announcing the election manifesto, party chief Nawaz Sharif said that his government will end energy crisis within two years by generating 5,000 MW electricity through coal. He vowed that his party will conduct local government elections within six months of coming into power.
Employment: New employment opportunities will be provided to over 3 million individuals in public and private sectors, including 1 million in the information technology sector and 1 million in the SME sector. Minimum wage for workers will be gradually increased to Rs15,000 per month.
Economy: GDP growth rate will be doubled from 3% in the last 5 years to over 6% in the next 5 years. Rate of industrial growth will be raised from 3% to 8% per annum. Investment GDP ratio will be increased from the existing 12% to 20%. Budget deficit will be reduced to 4% of the GDP. Tax to GDP ratio will be increased from 9% to 15% by 2018. 1,000 clusters of 500 houses each will be provided to the low-income groups in different parts of the country with the help private sector.
Energy: 10,000 MW additional electricity, including 5,000 MW from coal-fired power plants, will be generated. Fresh investment of $ 20 billion for power plants and related infrastructures will be mobilised. Transmission and distribution losses will be brought down to 10%.
Agriculture and Food Security: Agricultural growth will be accelerated to an average of 4% per annum.
Education: Total spending in education sector will be increased from 2% to 4% of the GDP by 2018. Target of 100% enrolment of boys and girls by 2020 will be achieved in line with the requirements of Article 25-A of the constitution. Overall literacy level will be raised from 54% to 80% in the shortest possible time. Science and computer laboratories will be established in all public sector secondary schools. Danish schools will be set up in all provinces. Girls High School will be opened in every union council. District education authorities will be established. Laptops will be distributed among students in the public universities on merit
Education Endowment Fund will be set up in all the provinces for award of scholarships to needy students from low-income groups on merit.
Health: Expenditure on health services will be increased from 1% of the GDP to 2% by 2018. Medical insurance card will be issued to every family for basic healthcare at subsidised rates.
Target of 100% vaccination of children, 50% reduction in maternal and infant mortality and 10% reduction in the rate of population growth will be achieved within five years.
Each district will have at least one hospital with diagnostic facilities and required specialists. 1,000 mobile health units will be launched to provide basic health facilities to remote areas.
District health authority will be established in each district. Total spending on ‘non-pension’ social security will be raised from 1% of the GDP to 2% by 2018.
Information Technology: ICT will be introduced and integrated in all ministries and departments and in major sectors like banking and trade.
500 ICT centres will be established in smaller cities and towns to reduce the knowledge gap. Local software industry will be promoted to generate annual exports of at least $10 billion by 2020.
Overseas Pakistanis: At least 50% of the annual remittances of $12 billion will be converted into productive investment through special products and financial instruments and a certain percentage of public offerings of all new floatations will be reserved for overseas Pakistanis. Nawaz Sharif said that despite difficulties created by the federal government, Punjab government has carried out record development works during the last five years.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk