"PTI's Economic Vision" - By @Asad_Umar - a good analysis of what PTI Economic Policy stands for

Courtesy: "The News" (1 Sep 2012)
The PTI's Economic Vision
By Asad Umar

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced its five-year economic vision recently. There has been a varied response to it, but a recurring theme in many of the responses, including that in the editorial on the subject in The News, has been that the analysis of issues is spot-on but implementation-level details are insufficient. To quote from the editorial, “The PTI’s economic policy plan gets full marks for intention and vision.” High praise, indeed. It has never been lack of plans for detailed implementation which stops reform from happening. The roadblocks are lack of political will and unwillingness to take the entrenched vested interests head-on and compromises made for political expediency and self-interests. The second major hurdle is governance failure and weak institutions, and that causes even sincere efforts to fail. The economic vision of the PTI addresses each of these and takes a bold political stance on them.

The PTI’s economic vision is based on five national emergencies that have to be declared to deal with the core structural problems of Pakistan’s economy. The first is energy reform. The key elements of resolving the energy crises include changing the fuel mix, revamping the rundown low-efficiency generation and distribution system, fast-tracking new generation capacity and gas imports, incentivising exploration activity, developing the local coal reserves, harnessing the hydroelectric potential of the country, utilising its renewable energy potential and getting the regulatory and incentive structure right for the whole energy sector. Detailed work on most of these aspects has been done, and is underway in a couple of areas. Just the conversion of furnace-oil based capacity to coal would save approximately four billion dollars a year and we would be able to get rid of the circular debt crises by reducing the cost of power generation, instead of increasing tariffs. Recognising the importance of fixing the energy crises we have included 20 billion dollars of government investment in this sector in the five-year period. Private investment will be in addition to this.

"Courting change" - PTI Economic Policy and Media's Cynical Reaction to it (By Babar Sattar, The News)

Courtesy: Daily "The News" (1 Sep 2012)
Courting change
On Media's Cynical Reaction to PTI's Economic Policy
By Babar Sattar

It is hard to poke holes in the PTI’s economic policy which highlights and addresses pressing problems of economics and governance confronting us without telling us that milk and honey will begin to flow the moment the PTI is voted into power. Being the sensible and pragmatic CEO that Asad Umar has been, he has told us that there are no quick fixes to Pakistan’s maladies, but neither are they incurable. Essentially his party will try and enhance our resource pool, curtail state opulence and undesirable expenditure and use the money freed up to reduce budget deficit on the one hand and invest in basic citizen services (health, education and skill development) on the other. What is there to disagree with in any of this?

Yes, the devil is always in the detail. The PTI says it will come up with sector-wise specific policies that will include implementation plans. We should critically review the macro plan and the detailed policies. We should examine if these policies and plans address the problems that are holding Pakistan down. We should scrutinise PTI’s priorities reflected in these policies and determine who will they benefit. We should analyse whether they are pure rhetoric or can actually be implemented. We should compare and contrast them with the policies and performance of the other mainstream parties – the PPP and the PML-N. Why is it that we have seen none of this in the public debates since the release of the PTI’s economic policy?

The media’s perfunctory and cynical response to PTI’s economic policy is worrying. The problem is not that the media didn’t like the policy but that it is not interested. We are interested in the Swiss letter and whether or not the Supreme Court will send another prime minister packing. We are interested in corruption scandals and who all can be named and shamed. We are interested in conspiracy theories of all sorts, in gossip, in violence. We have ample time and energy to be cynical and dismissive, but none to be constructive. We love the blame-game but have no interest or patience to engage with the real issues. If the media sells what people buy, what does its lack of focus on problem-solving say about us as a society?

PTI's Asad Umar and Jehangir Tareen discuss #PTIEconomicPolicy in "Pakistan Tonight" with Nadeem Malik (24 Aug 2012)

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Disclaimer: This blog is not an official PTI webpage and is run by a group of volunteers having no official position in PTI. All posts are personal opinions of the bloggers and should, in no way, be taken as official PTI word.
With Regards,
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA Volunteers" Team.

PTI Economic Policy (in PDF) - by Asad Umar and Jehangir Tareen (24 August 2012)

Download PTI Economic Policy (in PDF): http://www.mediafire.com/?fbepga63wutqsbk
Video: Asad Umar presenting the policy

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Read the policy online below

Imran Khan, as prime minister, will devolve power
 from his hands down to grass-root level, says Asad Umar.

Express Tribune article on PTI Economic Policy (24 Aug 2012)

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) announced its Economic Policy Vision on Friday in which it listed down health and education as priorities among reforms in governance and revenue collection.

PTI’s Senior Vice-President Asad Umar, before presenting the policy, gave an insight into the current situation of Pakistan.

While comparing the growth of Pakistan to that of other countries, Umar said, “Pakistan’s solution is not administrative, it is political.”

He added that the cost of economic failure in Pakistan is of human life. “A child born in Pakistan has a lower chance of survival than in most countries of the world.”

Status of PTI case against MQM in London - Letter from British Police to IK

Status of PTI case against MQM in London

This is the letter Imran Khan received from England Police (Scotland Yard) regarding Imran Khan case against MQM. Clearly saying that they need the GOVT of Pakistan cooperation to be able to do their investigation against Altaf Hussian. The England Police requested Pakistani GOVT twice to allow them to investigate this case but they didn't allow them. Now many people on TV and social Media without knowing the facts come and say ( Imran Khan bi tho Altaf Hussian kay Khilaaf case karnay chala thaa uss ka kia huwaa). Here is the proof that Imran Khan did what ever he could have done. Please spread this as much as you can.....................

Disclaimer: This blog is not an official PTI webpage and is run by a group of volunteers having no official position in PTI. All posts are personal opinions of the bloggers and should, in no way, be taken as official PTI word.
With Regards,
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA Volunteers" Team.

Asad Umar PTI, Sartaj Aziz, Dr Salman Shah, Saeed Ghani in "Cross Fire" (6 Aug 2012)

Saaeed Ghani PPP, Dr. Salman Shah Former Finance Minister, Asad Umar PTI and Sartaj Aziz PML-N in fresh episode of Dunya News and talk with Mehar Bukhari.

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Disclaimer: This blog is not an official PTI webpage and is run by a group of volunteers having no official position in PTI. All posts are personal opinions of the bloggers and should, in no way, be taken as official PTI word.
With Regards,
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA Volunteers" Team.

PTI's Waziristan Peace March: Global activists all set to take part in the anti-drone campaign

Courtesy: Daily "Express Tribune" (5 August 2012)
Condemning drone strikes: Global activists to take part in PTI’s Waziristan march
By Mohammed Rizwan
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has succeeded in mustering international support over what is arguably the most ambitious demonstration against unmanned predators conducting airstrikes in Pakistan.

Hundreds of workers from Reprieve, a UK-based not-for-profit organisation working to raise awareness about capital punishment and drone strikes, will take part in PTI’s long march in September.

PTI aims to lead a 100,000-strong rally from various parts of the world to Waziristan in its protest against remotely-controlled airstrikes in Pakistan’s tribal region. The convention will congregate in Peshawar, from where it will advance towards Bannu and onwards to Miramshah.

Renowned writer and intellectual Tariq Ali along with other international celebrities are said to be participating in the march. PTI chief Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Khan, who is an active member of the NGO, also took part in an anti-drone march in November last year.

“We are talking to the army and other concerned quarters about the arrangements for the march which is expected to take place on September 23,” said PTI’s central vice president Naeemul Haq.

The event will be the first of its kind. The area in question is said to be housing al Qaeda and Taliban militants and with the exception of the army, movement has been restricted for all.

“The world will witness no less than a 100,000 people march towards Waziristan in September. Preparations are already under way,” said PTI’s nformation secretary(Punjab) Andleeb Abbas.

“We are being told it will be very dangerous to proceed beyond Bannu. Some don’t even think we’ll make it beyond Tank. But barring any major tragedy, we are going to Waziristan for sure,” said an adamant Abbas.

“Reprieve is mobilising people from Europe and the US. We basically want to go there to express solidarity with the people of the area, and find out first-hand who is really being killed by the US drone strikes. We are told the drones are only targeting terrorists, but we want to find out for ourselves.”

Link: http://tribune.com.pk/story/417769/condemning-drone-strikes-global-activists-to-take-part-in-ptis-waziristan-march/
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Disclaimer: This blog is not an official PTI webpage and is run by a group of volunteers having no official position in PTI. All posts are personal opinions of the bloggers and should, in no way, be taken as official PTI word.
With Regards,
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA Volunteers" Team.

Video: Imran Khan - PTI not party of any ethnicity, religion or sect. Its Pakistan's party

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Disclaimer: This blog is not an official PTI webpage and is run by a group of volunteers having no official position in PTI. All posts are personal opinions of the bloggers and should, in no way, be taken as official PTI word.
With Regards,
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA Volunteers" Team.

Omer Cheema on PTI's Policies on KPK Issues in "Tonight with Fahd Hussain" (July 17, 2012)

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Disclaimer: This blog is not an official PTI webpage and is run by a group of volunteers having no official position in PTI. All posts are personal opinions of the bloggers and should, in no way, be taken as official PTI word.
With Regards,
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA Volunteers" Team.

Imran Khan's best interview ever - with Talat Hussain on Dawn News (20-21 June 2012)

Part 1 - (20 June 2012)

Part 2 - (21 June 2012)

Imran Khan answers "Are you Taliban Khan or Pro-America"? (July 17, 2012)

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Disclaimer: This blog is not an official PTI webpage and is run by a group of volunteers having no official position in PTI. All posts are personal opinions of the bloggers and should, in no way, be taken as official PTI word.
With Regards,
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA Volunteers" Team.

Imran Khan on PTI Govt: We will control Agencies with people power (July 17, 2012)

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Disclaimer: This blog is not an official PTI webpage and is run by a group of volunteers having no official position in PTI. All posts are personal opinions of the bloggers and should, in no way, be taken as official PTI word.
With Regards,
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA Volunteers" Team.