Framework for Economic Growth, Pakistan - Planning Commission

International conference on “Framework for Economic Growth, Pakistan”identified all the issues and hindrances.Main issues are covered comprehensivelyand honestly in the document but the realchallenge is the implementation.Question: Do you agree with the four priority areas highlighted in the framework?Answer: The four main areas identified inFEG are important. The issues Pakistan isfacing are identified in four priority areas.To go on high growth trajectory would bethe way forward the economy should befocusing on. The intelligent way of goingforward is to focus on some of the importantareas instead of looking at all the thingsaltogether.Question: In similarities with Malaysia what would you suggest for implementation? And haveyou chalked out Civil Service Reforms for your Civil Servants?Answer: In Malaysia the implementationframework was slightly different as weworking closely with the Prime Minister andwe brief him about our analysis and findingswhich he understands. We don't have hungerin our country and unemployment is verylow. We established a Program ManagementOffice as a corporation being run by anindependent council comprising of tenpersons who are economists, socialists,bankers etc. The close relationship betweenthe Prime Minister, the Council, ProgramManagement Office and the Chief Secretary(number one Civil Servant position inMalaysia) were part of the team.Engagement of all the stakeholders from allthe government agencies and stakeholdersfrom private sector was important forimplementation and ownership. To addressthe whole Civil Service Reform was too bigto address for us. We worked on CivilService Reforms with an approach tofacilitate economic plans and transformationof the country.Question: Do you have incentive structure in monetary terms? Was there a challenge to monetizethe perks in Malaysia?Answer: We proposed incentive structurebased on performance. All of the perks inMalaysia are monetized. Everything isquantified in incentives which are in practicefor more than ten years.To monetize, in my point of view, was not aquestion of choice as there were not enoughhousing facilities, cars etc. for the CivilServants in our country.The Political will is the main challenge that how government acceptsand willing to support reform initiatives. In case of Malaysia thewhole Cabinet and Prime Minister was with us.Question: Going forward how do you view the challenges for Pakistani growth?Answer: The political will is the mainchallenge that how government accepts andwilling to support reform initiatives. In caseof Malaysia the whole Cabinet and PrimeMinister was with us. It requires selling theideas and consultations for theimplementation. Crisis gives bothopportunity and challenges. In case of89