Tax net widening can solve problems: JI-2904-News

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Deputy Secretary General Dr Fareed Ahmed Paracha has said that widening the tax net can solve the problem of increasing budget deficit in Pakistan.

He was speaking at a seminar organised here by Sustainable Development Policy Institute in its series of seminars to bring political parties manifestos in to discussion and assess their impact on electorates in the run up for May 11 general elections.

Dr Paracha said that JI will spend 5 per cent of GDP on education and will focus on up-gradation of schools, promotion of Urdu and local languages as primary mediums of imparting education and will make English language a second language.

He believed in foreign policy revision and change in political system to make it in accordance with what he said “Ideology of Pakistan.” He said that JI after coming to power will ensure the availability of daily use items along with their sustained prices for the full term in office.

On energy sector, the JI leader said the party would control line losses, optimise the 22,000 MW electricity generating capacity with the help of Iran and China. He said that JI has planned to make six big and 200 small dams all over the country. Generation of energy from industrial wastages will be our priority. JI has a plan to make local solar panels. This will bring electricity prices down by Rs10 per unit from existing Rs27 per unit, he said adding that his party will increase spending out of budget on health with a special focus of prioritising homoeopathic treatment.

On women empowerment, Fareed Paracha was of the view that we will implement a law against divorce. He also talked about reforms in civil services, local government and police.

Giving his remarks as a discussant, Mukhtar Ahmed, a senior analyst said that JI manifesto is very comprehensive and innovative. He said that JI has not addressed the issue of sectarianism in its manifesto. There exists no regulatory body pertaining to religious matters and JI has altogether ignored this very important point in its manifesto.

Replying to a question, the JI leader said that JI is against terrorism and to cope with this problem, there is an immediate need of proper law and order reforms. All visas which have been issued without any security clearance will be cancelled immediately, he said adding, “we will also investigate the past cases of terrorism in Pakistan.”