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PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif unveiled his party\u2019s much-anticipated election manifesto on Saturday, with the upcoming February 8 polls less than two weeks away.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a party event in Lahore, he said that the PML-N\u2019s manifesto has been prepared with \u201cgreat efforts\u201d and would be \u201cfully implemented\u201d if voted to power.<\/p>\n
Nawaz termed the country\u2019s economy as the most important aspect of the manifesto.<\/p>\n
He termed it a \u201cstrange coincidence\u201d that despite him being ousted as the prime minister in 2017 and \u201cpolitical vendettas\u201d against the PML-N, his party members were once again \u201cpreparing to contest elections and presenting their manifesto\u201d.<\/p>\n
The former premier added that he neither intended to \u201cexpress his grievances\u201d nor was \u201cin a mood to complain today\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nawaz said he hoped the people would read the manifesto, on which PML-N Shehbaz Sharif and party leaders Ahsan Iqbal and Irfan Siddiqui had already spoken before him.<\/p>\n
In an indirect reference to ex-premier Imran Khan, he said, \u201cIf I was there in the previous government instead of the person who you saw, I would have never done what he did.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the former premier recalled the PML-N\u2019s previous tenures, saying there was \u201cno inflation\u201d back then, the detailed manifesto was shared by the party on its official account on social media platform X.<\/p>\n
If voted to power, the party vowed to provide the public with \u201ccheap and increased electricity\u201d as well as \u201cspeedy development\u201d. Its promises include a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in power bills, a 15,000 megawatt-increase in electricity production and a 10,000MW production of solar energy.<\/p>\n
Appeasing the youth, the party also vowed to ensure youth representation in national politics through parliament, and provincial and local governments.<\/p>\n
The PML-N further aims to restore student unions, expand the National Youth Scheme, allocate funds for IT start-ups and increase youth entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
The manifesto also includes establishing \u201cPakistan\u2019s first sports university\u201d and \u201c250 stadiums and academies\u201d along with youth skills development\u201c and initiating a Scholarship Endowment Fund.<\/p>\n
On the foreign policy front, the PML-N promises to send a \u201cmessage of peace\u201d to other countries, including India on the condition of reverting its August 2019 action on India-occupied Kashmir.<\/p>\n
The manifesto also vows to combat the impacts of climate change<\/a> and a \u201czero-tolerance policy\u201d towards terrorism.<\/p>\n Other agendas on the PML-N\u2019s table include a \u201csecured water future\u201d and \u201cadd life to the economy through exports\u201d.<\/p>\n The party manifesto also aims to cater to overseas Pakistanis, stating that they will \u201crebuild Pakistan together\u201d. Other points include \u201cPML-N\u2019s promise to the public: share in development\u201d and a \u201cplan to bring Constitutional, legal, judicial and administrative reforms\u201d.<\/p>\n The party further intends to introduce a family planning program<\/a> and bring education reforms, as well as \u201cdigital development<\/a>\u201d. It also aims to \u201cmerge various transport means<\/a>\u201d, bring sports reforms<\/a> and \u201crebuild\u201d tourism in Pakistan.<\/p>\n The PML-N\u2019s manifesto includes combating<\/a> violence against minorities, modernising agriculture<\/a> and making women independent. The party also vows to introduce a new labour policy<\/a> to ensure their rights.<\/p>\n The manifesto was unveiled after the party\u2019s political rivals, especially PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, frequently assailed it<\/a> for not disclosing its agenda despite the general elections being less than two weeks away.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of democracy and election is this where one party has a manifesto and another \u2014 which is pitting its nominee for the prime minister for the fourth time \u2014 says their [old] manifesto is [still] valid. They can\u2019t even tell you that if they somehow get the chance again [to rule] for the fourth time, what they\u2019ll do,\u201d the PPP scion had said.<\/p>\n More to follow<\/em><\/p>\n To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here<\/a> for candidates.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n