National Party aims to transform Pakistan from a security state to a welfare state

Lahore: Senator Dr. Ashok Kumar Ratnani on Sunday said National Party (NP) aims to transform Pakistan from a security state to a welfare state where everyone can enjoy basic human rights, civic facilities and live with peace of mind.

Country cannot prosper in absence of satisfied working class and that prosperity of masses is the best defence for a country, he said while speaking to a convention of NP Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The Senator said that policies of centre has helped improve situation in Balochistan where conditions are taking a positive turn while crime rate has fallen substantially.

He said that salary of a labourer must be equal to the price of a tola of gold as current salaries and wages have pushed them to the wall.

Ashok Kumar said that poverty and underdevelopment were the underlying reasons for insurgency for which development and political reconciliation is the solution.

Speaking on the occasion President NP Punjab and others said that Pak-China economic corridor will unleash a wave of development across Pakistan but the right of Balochistan over this revolutionary project must be accepted.

They said that the proposed export promotion zones across the Balochistan should be completed well in time which will bring prosperity to the underdeveloped province.

The speakers said that Balochistan produces substantial amount of energy but there are areas which get electricity for two hours.

Ayub Malik said that government has imposed GIDC but now it should reconsider imposing new taxes, revising existing taxes upward and increasing prices of power and fuel as it would hit masses and businesses alike.

He regretted that out of Rs190 billion generated from resource exploration only Rs20 billion were pocketed by the Balochistan while the remaining amount was taken by the federal government.

At the occasion new office bearers for Rawalpindi and Islamabad were also elected. Sidra Saeed was elected as President NP Islamabad while Malik Nawaz was elected as President NP Rawalpindi.

They were asked to spread message of NP to the best of their abilities.