Framework for Economic Growth, Pakistan - Planning Commission

International conference on “Framework for Economic Growth, Pakistan”about what the growth strategy is trying todo. In any environment in combinedactivities the exciting successful businessesare a little bit like a canopy in a rain forest.This is what an outsider from a distancewould see it in totality of an economy. Butunderneath the canopy of the rain forestthere is all the life of the forest including theunderbrush etc. And importantly thoserapidly growing new trees in terms ofmetaphor are the firms and businesses in aneconomy. It is a process by which largeentities succeed and prosper, but eventuallythey leave and make room for the newbusinesses which create economicdynamism and ultimately long term growthand economic success. That was the natureof our paper that how firstly we can createmarkets for Pakistan and government toprovide level playing field... underneath the canopy of the rain forest there is all the life of theforest including the underbrush.Question: With respect to growth framework do you agree with the four priorities identified?Answer: I absolutely agree with the fourpriorities. People can find differentapproaches to articulate that what isfundamentally same idea and connection. Interms of markets, competition, andentrepreneurship what I just described wasthe dimension that I also emphasized in mywork. Certainly the dimension ofgovernance is important in which people inpublic service need to be effective publicservants to contribute to national well-being.Another important dimension is of cities. Incontext of urbanization I thinkunderstanding the role of cities is veryimportant in 21 st century. The growthstrategy is inventing the concept relating tolarge scale urbanization. What I thinkPlanning Commission is articulating byemphasizing cities in growth strategy is thatthis process is happening now and it shouldbe focused towards the objective ofadvancing Pakistan’s economy and helpingto realize its potential for 21 st century.Question: Do you think that given the current power structure we would be able to think aboutthis reform?Answer: All I know is that every country hasits own politics. Every country has its wayof organizing existing interests. Whether itis USA or Pakistan, or any other part of theworld political parties tend to reflect existingeconomic power. So in that sense the changewill be required in Pakistan, and similarlychange also happening in USA. I look at thedifficulties that are faced politically here interms of liberating markets, encouragingentrepreneurship, creating future markets,opportunity for youth and these are similarlyimportant elsewhere in the world. I believethat people in Pakistan are very much patriotand they love their country. That sense ofnational pride will lead them to make thechoices which will really help this countryreach its potential not only in 21 st centurybut also in the future.***99