An Alternative Planning Perspective for Regional Growth and Development in Pakistan Akmal Hussain (original) (raw)

An Alternative Planning Perspective for Regional Growth and Development in Pakistan

THE LAHORE JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS

In Pakistan, historically, regional economic disparity has been an important political issue. During the 1960’s the economic disparity between East and West Pakistan fueled the movement for provincial autonomy in East Pakistan and subsequently the movement for national independence in what became Bangladesh in 1971. During the late 1970’s and 1980’s the issue of regional disparity between the provinces of what remains of Pakistan has acquired an explosive potential. However, this is an issue that has been charged by emotion, and it may be time now to begin a serious analysis to enable effective policy formulation to overcome the problem.

Beyond Planning and Mercantilism:An Evaluation of Pakistan’s Growth Strategy

The Pakistan Development Review, 2006

The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back".

DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT 1 : THE CASE OF EAST PAKISTAN 1947-1969

The economic exploitation of East Pakistan started right from the outset after the partition of India in 1947. The economic marginalization of east Bengal (later East Pakistan) began in 17 th century by the British and it continued in the 1950s and 1960s. This paper discusses that the state of Pakistan especially under Ayub's did not make serious efforts for the economic uplift of East Pakistan and the economic disparities between East and West Pakistan in terms of international trade, inter-wing trade, foreign exchange earnings, aid flow and developmental expenditures. In pre-colonial period things in East Bengal looked promising. It had sufficient water supply for double or even triple cropping; its higher literacy rate, and absence of land tenure after the exodus of Hindu landlords pointed to east Bengal great potential for agricultural development. 2 The part of Bengal which became East Pakistan in 1947 was neglected under British: a dormant economy except for jute; a lack of infrastructure; an under governed territory; a severe shortage of modern elites, especially among the Muslims. Bengal which used to be the most flourishing provinces in the subcontinent for the last two thousand years, it became repository of extreme poverty. 3 Colonial Legacy Under the British Raj, not only the agricultural resources, industries, and trade of Bengal were severely exploited and damaged, but, it also received less consideration in the allocation of resources. The main reason behind this unfair attitude was that the British found the bloodiest and aggressive opposition to British coming from Bengal during the 'Battle of Plassey' 1757. Geographical anomalies, uneven economic development and an imbalance in the representation of regions in the state apparatus army and bureaucracy-were, therefore, the legacies of the colonial period. 4 West Pakistan's experience of regional imbalance was not historically unique. The colonial legacy and the existing market forces in the economy affected the development process in a way which intensifies the social and economic disparities between the two regions. There can be traced four important implications of colonial legacy: firstly, considerable economic inequalities had already arisen which ultimately determined the future course of regional development. Secondly, the countries had been left in a state of chaos and impoverishment so that the new born states did not have enough resources to reconstruct infrastructures in economically depressed regions. Thirdly, the geographical boundaries of new born states were not always drawn with consideration to the principles of economic and cultural commonness. Fourthly, the state apparatus inherited by the underdeveloped countries did not truly reflect regional interests. As a result, several regions did not

An Assessment of Pakistan's Urban Policies, 1947-1997

What public policies and programmes have been followed in dealing with mounting urban crisis in Pakistan over the past 50 years? This question has been addressed in the present article. Pakistan's urban policies fall in three distinct phases, corresponding to evolving political and economic regimes. Yet, they show a fundamental continuity in that they have been driven by 'plots and public works' strategy. Pakistan has not been lacking in 'up-to-date' policies and programmes. Its urban policies have resulted in notable achievements and pervasive failures. The paper assesses both the achievements and shortfalls and identifies private interests that have benefited at the cost of public welfare.

Shaping up the Future Spatial Plans for Urban Areas in Pakistan

Sustainability, 2020

Since 2007, more than fifty percent of our planet’s population is living in urban areas. In the coming decade, the rate of urbanization will be fastest in Asia and Africa. Within South Asian countries, urbanization has attained its fastest pace in Pakistan. Urban planners and agencies in Pakistan have tried various spatial plan making solutions to manage urban areas, but none have given the desired results. After a 20% increase in declared urban areas within last two decades, urban planners and policy makers are looking for a more innovative and realistic spatial planning solution, which could adjust to the uncertainties and complexities of real world. This research uses a mixed method approach comprising a two phased survey of professional planners, analyzed through the selective lexicon approach to document planners’ opinions about the reasons behind the poor performance and conformance of spatial plans. This study documents the planners’ understanding of the contemporary concept ...

Rethinking Pakistan’s Development Strategy

THE LAHORE JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS

The objective of this paper is to set out the key components of a development strategy for Pakistan. A fundamental premise of our analysis is that the world economic environment is changing dramatically and a development strategy today must position itself to take advantage of the changes taking place. The paper is divided into five sections: First, we provide a brief review of Pakistan’s experience with development strategies so far. Next, we discuss the changes that have occurred, or are taking place in the global economy, which have strategic relevance for Pakistan. In the third section we look at the current situation in Pakistan with regard to the potential drivers of growth, based on the earlier discussion of the global developments. In the final section key elements of an alternative development strategy for Pakistan are outlined.

The Pakistan Development Review

2016

Decentralisation is associated with the hope that “bringing government closer to the people ” will improve the provision of public services by increasing people’s voice in decision-making, and by making the government more accountable to them. Decentralisation is also associated with the hope that disadvantaged groups of society,

Factors Affecting Development Oriented Policy in Pakistan

Factors Affecting Development Oriented Policy in Pakistan., 2002

Without portraying a precise picture of Pakistan’s geo-social composition, it is spurious to understand the discourse and impediments of its’ politico-economic development. Pakistan is a significant developing country of South Asia, who won it freedom from British imperialism (along with India) in 1947. It shares its borders with China in the north, India in east, Afghanistan and Iran in the west and spreads over Arabian Sea in the south. Geographically it holds extreme variety from glacial mountains and frosty valleys in the north-east to the sizzling wastelands of south-west and from alluvial rich plains of river Sindh to vast arid terrains and stacks of the mid-west. Likewise, Baluch, Sindhi, Siraiki, Punjabi, Pashtune and several other minor groups interweave the ethno-lingual tapestry of Pakistani society. Administratively it is divided in to four provinces i.e. Sindh, Punjad, NWFP , Baluchistan and a Federally Administrated Tribal Area (FATA) and Islamabad as the federal capital.

Pakistan: Charting a New Course to Development1

2019

Over the last seven decades of Pakistan’s history, an economic structure has emerged that is characterised by three features. First, an inability to maintain high growth in national income per person over the long run. Second, endemic mass poverty accompanied by growing inequality between social groups and regions of the country. Third, persistent dependence on aid. These features manifest underdevelopment, which can be defined as a condition whereby the actualisation of the human potential of a society is systematically constrained. Pakistan’s underdevelopment is fundamentally rooted in a socio-economic environment that restricts access over high quality education, constrains competition and where hiring is often not based on merit. This precludes equality of opportunity for individuals to develop their capabilities. Consequently, the human potential of society remains untapped.