Time for a charter of citizen rights

In the public discourse about how to put the economy on the path of inclusive and sustainable economic development, analysts have usually focused on the need for charters of economy, democracy and governance. But what is forgotten, to quote a distinguished development economist, is that the historical record demonstrates that economic and political rights make a remarkably successful problem-solving system. That may prompt us to think of a charter of citizens’ economic, political and cultural rights that could also help define better-conceived charters of economy, democracy and governance and ensure their effective enforcement with the overwhelming support of an empowered and active citizenry. As proposed by MQM-P, a charter of rights was signed by PPP; the latter was persuaded to agree, owing to the dire need for coalition partners for PDM to form the federal government in the face of fierce opposition from PTI.