On the 27th of February, PPP chair Bilawal Bhutto Zardari began a historic 2,000 kilometre roadshow with his workers—the “Awami March”—from Karachi to Islamabad, protesting against the rise of inflation and economic stagnation. The march ended with an enormous response from the people and other opposition parties which lead to the submission of a no-confidence move against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Since then, many political parties, civilians, journalists, and government allies have shown their support for the joint-opposition demands of a no-confidence move against the PM, but the main question arising from different platforms continues to be whether the joint-opposition of the PPP, the PML(N), and the JUI(F) amongst others can save the sinking ship of the economy from such irreparable conditions?
The country’s condition is, indeed, not much different from that which we have received from past dictators’ regimes; every time, the PPP has safely sailed the country’s sinking economy to stabilisation, providing reforms for the betterment of the people.
Such examples of reforms carried out by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto include:
- 1972’s land reforms, which restricted individual holdings to 150 acres of irrigated and 300 acres of unirrigated land
- the establishment of the Federal Flood Commission, which was tasked to prepare national flood protection plans, flood forecasting, and research to harness floodwater
- labor reforms introduced in July 1972, further elaborated and enlarged in August 1972
- the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), the only pension scheme in Asia at the time
- ten basic industries being immediately taken over by the government
- to avoid hardship and sufferings to the common man, an Economic Reforms Order promulgated in January 1972 to remove the Boards of Directors and managing agencies of twenty large-scale industries
- the formation of the National Credit Consultative Committee, with the formulation of a Rs. 1,560 million bank credit plan for small loans for low-cost housing and agricultural production
- the very first system of Pakistani identity cards being introduced in 1973
- New Education Reforms being announced on the 15th of March in 1972, which provided free education up to the 10th class throughout the country.
- the establishment of the world-class Quaid-e-Azam University, Allama Iqbal Open University, and Gomal University
- the wider availability of medicines to the common man in an act called the 1972 Drug Act, prohibiting the manufacture and import of any brand-name drugs
- the abolishment of the notorious English law and the separation of the judiciary from the executive
- the establishment of the Life Insurance Corporation in November 1972, which had a paid up capital of Rs. 10 million
- the improvement of socio-economic life for village-dwellers in a rural development program launched in July of 1972
- the launch of a massive people’s works programme, which harnessed the country’s vast manpower resources
- the provision of interim employment to unemployed scientists, engineers, and technicians by means of the National Volunteer Development Program launched in May of 1973, its main objective being to utilise the ability and energy of over 20,000 young technocrats
- the Police Reforms being announced on the 12th of April in 1972, which provided better training facilities and better service conditions for police officers nationally
- the stricking of the prevalent East India Company’s administrative structure by the abolishment of all service cadres and classes, alongside administrative reforms
- the spearheading of Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons Program, despite several shortcomings in the form of limited financial resources and strong western opposition; SZAB is now regarded as the father of the Nuclear Weapons Program in Pakistan
- on the 21st of June, 1972, President Bhutto flew with his entourage to Simla, Pakistan was in poor and pitiable state. He singlehandedly rose Pakistan’s position to be equal to India’s by means of his natural gift. This agreement had refrained India from attacking Pakistan
- the coalition of the Islamic Summit Conference at Lahore from the 22nd to the 24th February, 1974, which proved to be a tremendous success
- during a visit to Beijing by SZAB in February, 1972, China agreed to write off some of their earlier loans to Pakistan amounting to $110 million; additionally, they sent Pakistan 60 MiG-19 fighters and 100 T-54 and T-59 tanks as part of a new $300 million economic and military aid package
- the Bhutto-era Minister for Industries going to Moscow in December 1974 and bringing back word of a Soviet agreement to advance 4.5 billion rupees, in foreign exchange, to help Pakistan build a steel mill near Karachi. The mill has provided employment to some 40,000 persons since then, and aided in the development of Port Qasim
- SZAB visited Afghanistan’s King shortly after assuming office, receiving assurances that Afghanistan would not do anything to hamper Pakistan’s recovery from its recent war with India
- SZAB worked to develop relationships of mutual respect with several Arab leaders, most notably Muammar Qaddafi, Yasser Arafat, and Sheikh Zayd, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates. He had also been respectful with the Saudi Kings
- SZAB’s biggest achievement after coming into power was the preparation of a constitution. The most prominent characteristic of this constitution was that it accommodated proposals from the opposition parties and hence almost all the major political parties of the country accepted it
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s contributions in such a short period have been recorded forever in the annals of history. Today, people remember him as the leader who lived for the poor. His legacy is still an example for rulers not to compromise on their core principles.
Prominent achievements and reforms of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto include:
- the Ulema Conventions in all provinces
- the establishment of a nuclear power plant under a bilateral agreement with China
- agreements with Russia for steel mills in Pakistan
- the re-admission of Pakistan in the Commonwealth of Nations
- organisation of the SAARC conference in Pakistan
- re-establishment of bilateral relations with India. The Non-Nuclear Aggression Agreement, under which the two countries could neither attack each other’s nuclear facilities, was signed in 1988
- the peaceful withdrawal of the Russian army, and the beginning of peace initiatives in Afghanistan
- the restoration of democracy in Pakistan
- the campaigning for, and acquiring of, joint support from Islamic countries for the Kashmir cause
- the strengthening of the defence by means of self-reliance in defence technologies
- the initiation of the airplane manufacturing industry within Pakistan
- the first PM to pay a visit to the Siachen Glacier
- the exercise of the Zarb-e-Momin initiative
- the lifting of all black laws against press freedom in Pakistan
- the handover of the National Press Trust to the private sector, thereby ending governmental control on print media
- the re-instation of TV and radio employees who had been fired for their political motives by earlier governments
- monthly stipends for widows and orphans
- employment opportunities for Pakistanis in overseas markets
- establishment of Federal Youth Council
- establishment of a separate Ministry for Youth Affairs for the first time in Pakistan
- established the new Ministry for Anti-Narcotics
- established country-wide clinics for the recovery of drug addicts
- remarkable decrease in narcotics smuggling
- construction of modern roads in every city and town of the country
- 22% increase in oil and gas production
- gas supply to millions of consumers nation-wide
- encouraged 3 mega industrial projects including a petrochemical project at a cost of Rs 3.88 billion at the time
- a Toyota plant being established with an investment of Rs. 580 Million
- a historic rise in the Karachi Stock Exchange
- the lifting of a ban on gold imports to discourage corruption
- a decrease in the inflation rate from 9% annually to 5%
- the distribution of free bicycles under the People’s Programme
- the unprecedented development in the telecom sector of Pakistan, with 64400 new telephone exchange lines, 99391 telephone connections and linking 14 additional cities via telephone
- the reopening of the Balochistan Textile Mills which were closed down in 1983
- supply of electricity to more than 4000 villages in a single year for the first time in Pakistan’s history.
- person applying for an electricity connection could get one in 35 days or less.
- encouragement of the private sector in the power sector
- establishment of 60,000 new literacy centers
- necessary flood control measures in far areas to prevent damages to crops and farmers properties
- establishment of a Women’s Ministry as a first resort for gender development and to address women-specific issues
- schemes for land desalination
- strategy for complete end of load-shedding within 3 years
- the opening of 445 Postal Offices countrywide
- expansion of Port Qasim at Karachi
- Karachi Steel Mills was made profitable for the first time in 1989 under her rule
- Heavy Mechanical Complex made profitable from a loss-making entity
Prominent achievements and reforms of Asif Ali Zardari include:
- an equal entitlement of provinces on natural resources, by passing 18 amendment.
- the abolition of FCR (Frontier Crimes Regulations)
- restoration/implementation of the constitution to its original form
- the initiation of the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package for the welfare of the Baloch people
- 11,500 jobs for Balochistan
- the revision of the Industrial Relations Act to enhance labour protection
- the initiation of the Thar Coal project
- the Small Dams project in different areas
- work begun on Diamer-Bhasha dam
- Rs. 1.1 trillion subsidy provided to power sector for keeping consumer bills reasonable
- Rs. 2200 billion were spent on development of road, railway and other programs
- schemes and policies for farmers such as Benazir Tractor scheme, subsidy on fertiliser and seeds
- record production of wheat and rice
- ban on trade unions lifted
- income of rural areas increased
- sacked employees were reinstated
- initiate poverty alleviation by establishing Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)
- in order to improve the condition of the country’s economy, Restructured eight state-owned enterprises
- exports of the country reached a record all-time high in 2013-14
- inaugurated the country’s first ever Road Safety Institute in Sector H-8 at the cost of Rs. 38 million
- more than 100,000 internships for Masters’ holders
- number of educational institute setup in different parts of the country
- allotment of land to landless women
- allocation of 10% quotas for women in all jobs
- repeal of PEMRA Ordinance 2007 issued by the Musharraf dictatorship
- freedom of expression was ensured to media
- numbers of Health cafe institute in different parts of country
The people of Pakistan are, yet again, looking forward to the reign of the heir of SZAB’s political legacy, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as per his release of a charter of demands for his Awami March. If you do go through it, you will find that it is the continuation of many of the aforementioned reforms.
