ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) has proposed concrete steps towards self-reliance and self-sufficiency, saying the government must gradually reduce dependence on international financial institutions through “serious and practical” measures backed by national consensus, adding that tough decisions were unavoidable to ensure economic stability.
“The reliance on loans and foreign assistance is unsustainable, calling for sweeping austerity measures and structural reforms to put the economy on a self-reliant footing,” warned Secretary General PPP Parliamentarians Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari in a statement on Tuesday.
Bokhari stressed that building a strong and stable Pakistan must be the foremost priority, even if it requires difficult decisions. He called for a national consensus to adopt self-reliance and reduce dependence on external borrowing. The PPP Secretary General proposed sweeping austerity measures, including a 50 per cent reduction in the salaries and perks of constitutional office-holders and senior state functionaries. He also suggested that federal and provincial ministers, as well as parliamentarians, should voluntarily accept a 40 per cent cut in their salaries and benefits to reduce the burden on the national exchequer.
He further emphasised the need to curtail institutional expenditures across government and state bodies. As part of energy conservation efforts, he recommended discontinuing central air-conditioning and heating systems in both public and private sector offices.
The PPP leader also called for broadening the tax base by bringing housing, foreign currency, stock exchange, transport, industry, and trade into the documented economy. He said that official fees on property transfers in private housing societies should be fully collected and deposited into the national treasury.
Criticising what he described as preferential treatment for the elite, Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari urged the government to withdraw all forms of relief extended to affluent segments of society and instead focus on easing the hardships of ordinary citizens facing soaring inflation and rising food prices. “It is unfortunate that those who have earned wealth and status in the name of the country are unwilling to pay taxes,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of agriculture, he termed it the backbone of the economy and called for allocating maximum budgetary resources to the sector. He advocated increased subsidies on fuel, agricultural machinery, fertilisers, and seeds to support farmers and boost productivity.
Bokhari also welcomed ongoing consultations among national leadership at the Presidency, terming them a positive step towards responsible decision-making on key national issues.
