The National Alliance Conference (NAC) convened under the chairmanship of the National Dialogue Council (NDC) has unanimously passed a sweeping resolution condemning the ruling coalition’s economic management and calling for fundamental constitutional and structural reforms, including the formation of a national government to steer Pakistan towards credible elections.

The conference, attended by representatives of prominent democratic political parties from across the country, addressed a cascading crisis spanning inflation, law and order, economic collapse, and systemic corruption.

Unanimous resolution

The conference unanimously passed the following resolution:

1. We declare the government’s policy regarding petroleum product prices to be against the interests of the people of Pakistan. Since the outbreak of the war in Iran, this government has capitalised on every opportunity to benefit refineries and petroleum marketing companies, allowing them to reap exorbitant profits. We demand that investigative agencies scrutinise these corrupt decisions, which are a direct result of a conflict of interest.

2. Today, the people of Pakistan are paying rates for petrol and diesel, as well as electricity and gas, that are higher than in any other country in South Asia. A 35% tax is included in the price of petrol, and an 18% tax is included in the price of diesel.

3. During his four years as Prime Minister, Mian Shehbaz Sharif has added more to the national debt than any other Prime Minister, taxed Pakistanis more than any other Prime Minister, and reduced the real disposable income of Pakistanis. His economic policies have been catastrophic.

4. It has now become clear that economic growth, public welfare, and empowered local governments are impossible under Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari.

5. Pakistan will remain unable to translate the successes of Field Marshal Asim Munir’s foreign and security policies into economic benefits for the public unless major constitutional and structural reforms are undertaken. These reforms include empowered local governments, smaller provinces, reforms in the NFC (National Finance Commission) award, reduction in taxes and government expenditures, and accountability for the unprecedented corruption across all provinces.

6. Implementing these reforms requires a national dialogue and reconciliation. To facilitate this dialogue, political tensions must be defused, immediate medical treatment must be provided to ailing political prisoners, and the dialogue process must be initiated.

7. ⁠In this regard, establishing a national government is a viable option; such an administration could undertake fundamental reforms and pave the way for impartial, transparent, and neutral elections.