ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday presented party manifesto, saying he believes it is the duty of government to not only save citizens from foreign invasion and internal violence but also from poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

Bilawal launched PPP manifesto at National Press Club Islamabad. PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Opposition leader in Senate Sherry Rehman, former CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah and other party leaders were present.

PPP manifesto is titled as “Roti, Kapra Aur Makaan---Ilm, Sehat, Sab Ko Kaam’ (Break, Clothing and House—Education, Health and Jobs for Everyone)

Bilawal said Benazir Bhutto made a promise to the people of Pakistan. It was the promise of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan for all our people.

He went on to say the current economic situation is unstable, intolerable and unsustainable. The bottom half of our population have seen their condition become more precarious as profiteers and contractors have seen their fortunes soar.

“Short-sighted quick fixes directed at the welfare of a tiny elite have compromised the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable, denied them economic justice, and at the same time compromised Pakistan’s economic sovereignty,” Bilawal said.

PPP Chairman said “Our party has led from the frontlines on all issues that matter to the people of this great country.” We must get the government on a track that is modelled on serving the people, he added.

Unemployment, low pay, and harsh working conditions are everyday realities in which the majority of our people try to provide for their families.

A secure home remains a distant dream for millions who live in shanty towns without water or municipal services, urban informal settlements or under the shadow of rural powerbrokers in villages.

Health services are severely stretched and a family that has the misfortune of facing ill health or an accident, rapidly becomes vulnerable to extreme poverty.

Education, which was once seen as a way out of poverty, is increasingly expensive, and of questionable quality. Being educated does not, in any case, guarantee a decent job.

“We feel that it is the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens not only from foreign aggression and internal violence, but also from poverty, hunger, malnutrition, disease, unemployment, and hazardous work and environmental conditions.”

It is the government’s duty to ensure stable, sustainable and inclusive growth in an equitable economy for all, so that there are decent jobs and living wages for ordinary women and men struggling to look after their families.

The people’s government brought reforms that were discontinued, and today, Pakistan is institutionally paralysed.

“Our vision of peace, prosperity and progress for all our people, particularly those who have suffered injustice and exploitation, has guided us through the decades,” Bilawal continued.

Bilawal vowed to free all the people from the fear of hunger, thirst and helplessness, open opportunities for all our children and youth so that they may excel, become active citizens of Pakistan and confident members of the global community; rebuild and build an economy that works for all our people, now and into the future; deepen democracy by fostering harmony among people, between people, our state and among institutions of our state and to make the government accountable and answerable to the people by strengthening the parliament and other institutional frameworks; secure rights and peace – for our state and for all our people; To reclaim Pakistan’s rightful place in the world.

This is party’s 10th manifesto during the last five decades and the first presented by Bilawal since he took over the reins.