Framework for Economic Growth, Pakistan - Planning Commission

International conference on “Framework for Economic Growth, Pakistan”Answer: The situation through which thecountry is passing the government is caughtup in short-termism which is not conducivefor long term thinking and can’t servePakistan over a period of next twenty tothirty years. We should concentrate andemphasize mainly on key factors and keysectors. It is due to our short-term planningapproaches that we are facing crises aftercrises. We need to rise above everydayproblems and to think of larger and longterm things. So our task is to sell this ideanot just to the people but also to thegovernment. Planning Commission shouldbe a part of decision making team withpowers. The ideas generated by the PlanningCommission should be sold to theparliament so that representatives of thepeople get educated. There should begeneral economic discussions in the arena ofall political parties, party leadership and inthe parliament.InterviewDr. Ishrat HussainDirector, IBA KarachiQuestion: To begin with please give some initial comments on new growth framework.Answer: I think that it is a very goodbeginning to start thinking about challengeswe would be facing in 21 st century such asglobalization, information explosion,urbanization, demographic transition etc.which are realities of today. At least wehave started thinking of implications ofthese global trends. Particularly our youthpopulation is important. 50% of our youthpopulation is going to be in job market andlooking for opportunities. If we fail to createopportunities there can be a risk of socialexplosion. This is the reason we need atleast 7% to 8% growth rate in Pakistan.Implementation is very important whichrequires will of the successive governments.Desirability of reforms and implementationis a real challenge ahead.About Civil Services Reform I would like tosay that the capacity to translate this visionand policies resides in the capacity ofinstitutions which further depends oncapacity of the Civil Servants. If we don’thave high caliber Civil Servants who areresponsible to the needs of the poorsegments of the population then whatevergood policies we may have will not gettranslated into real benefits. About revival ofCommissionary system we think that wehave to make a distinction between differentjobs such as law and order, revenue anddisaster management etc. which mycommission has also recommended in CivilServices Reform document. There should beneutral administrators in districts. Sanitation,109