Karachi, Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), Altaf Shakoor, voiced concerns over the rising unemployment in Pakistan, urging the government to reform economic policies to create more job opportunities. Shakoor emphasized the need for a shift in focus from protecting the elite to addressing the needs of the majority poor and the working class.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, Shakoor criticized both democratic and authoritarian regimes for safeguarding the interests of the elite, resulting in a tax system that favors landlords and industrial tycoons at the expense of the working class. He stressed that national development and prosperity are unattainable without changing this approach.

Shakoor highlighted the untapped job creation potential in the country’s industrial and agricultural sectors. He criticized the government’s policies favoring the import mafia, noting that Pakistan, an agricultural nation, still has to import food items. He proposed the development of new dams and canals, alongside the adoption of water-saving technologies like drip irrigation, to utilize arid and semi-arid lands for grain production, thus making Pakistan self-sufficient and reducing rural poverty.

Furthermore, Shakoor urged the government and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir to establish an authority akin to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). This body would aim to bring modern changes in agriculture, irrigation, education, technical training, and urban development to foster full employment opportunities.

Addressing the education system, Shakoor pointed out that it is a significant factor in rising unemployment. He advocated for short, technical, job-oriented diploma programs leading to degrees, suggesting a modular approach to medical education that could create a large workforce of nurses, paramedics, and medical technicians. He suggested applying this method to other fields such as engineering, law, accounting, and management.

Shakoor also proposed making startup development a mandatory part of all educational programs, enabling students to focus on entrepreneurship rather than solely on salaried employment.

Focusing on urban centers as key drivers of revenue and employment, Shakoor highlighted Karachi’s potential to eliminate unemployment in Sindh province through the development of its urban infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of building more industrial areas, creek ports, road, and rail networks. The proposed Karachi-Hyderabad and Karachi-Kati Bandar industrial corridors could significantly change the region’s destiny and create surplus jobs. Additionally, the development of an integrated commuter network in Karachi, including the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and Bus Rapid Transit systems, would transform the megacity.