Adil Najam
(Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series on Pakistan’s New Growth Startegy. The Planning Commission of Pakistan has invited ideas and suggestions on this and we invite and encourage our readers to please help in highlighting the best and most innovative ideas they can think of. Have your say.)
I have been planning to write this post for most of a month. I have kept postponing because more sensational and urgent “news” kept coming in the way and I did not want our readers’ attention so diverted on the immediate that they ignored the important. All of this to say two things: First, I believe that the topic of this post is truly and deeply important and I really do hope that our readers will think very deeply about this and give us their very best feedback and ideas on this. Second, I was wrong in my original assessment and should really not have waited – the sensational and the urgent are forever with us (especially in Pakistan) and should never distract us from the important. And, ‘important’ is what this post is about!
The Planning Commission of Pakistan – now headed by Dr. Nadeem ul Haque, an out-spoken economist; international economic policy expert; former head of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economists (PIDE); and a friend and erstwhile contributor to ATP – has embarked on a fresh and bold initiative to develop a new growth policy for Pakistan – a ‘New Development Approach.’ At a time when many of us (I certainly stand accused) are caught up in the politics of the moment and immediate concerns, here is a strong, timely and very welcome initiative to think long-term – beyond the dynamics of today’s politics or this government or that – about exactly what will get our economic house in order on a sustainable and long-term basis. What do we need to do today, that will make improve economic and developmental conditions tomorrow?
With a refreshing and energetic zeal, Dr. Nadeem ul Haque has been reaching out to all elements of the Pakistani intelligentsia – universities, business sector, independent experts, citizens, the public -to think about this question and to give the Planning Commission their inputs, their ideas, their critique, their suggestions. Dr. Haque has also reached out personally to us here at All Things Pakistan to contribute to this national dialogue and discussion on exactly what is needed in a national growth strategy for Pakistan, and a new development approach for our future. I have every reason to believe that this is not an empty gesture, but an honest and real desire on his part to get a serious dialogue going on the best ideas for a growth strategy for Pakistan. I would urge our readers to seriously avail of this opportunity and to share their ideas and suggestions on this issue. Not every idea, of course, can or should be implemented, but I have high confidence that in this case your ideas will be read heard, digested and have a real chance of influencing the final shape of the national growth strategy. For those of us who have long cribbed that no one listens to us, here is a real invitation to be heard. Let us not disappoint!
In December, while in Pakistan, I had the opportunity to participate and speak at an event organized on the new growth strategy at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) which included some of Pakistan’s leading economic scholars as well as university leaders from across Pakistan. A lot of the confidence you sense in the paragraphs above comes from that experience. It was heartening to see our economic policy makers making a serious and heartfelt effort at inviting debate and ideas. It was more heartening to see universities being viewed and treated with the respect than knowledge producers deserve in all societies. It was even more heartening to see a real discourse and a thirst for ideas and a discussion that did start looking at the long-term questions of national development in the serious intellectual and ideational perspectives. What I think was most heartening was the clear sense in that room that ideas matter. In many ways, that is what any strategy is about – a discourse on ideas and an attempt to hit at the right idea about what should happen.
A rather long introduction, I realize, to introduce this series of posts. At this point, I thought starting with the general idea of a ‘growth strategy’ is what would work best. We will have more specific posts later, but at this point, when you think of growth for Pakistan, what are the type of things that come to your mind? Remember, this is not making a wish list or throwing out cynical jugats. What are the most strategic investments in policy, in idea and in resources that can be made today that will put Pakistan on a path to growth.
That Pakistan is in an economic mess is not in question. It is also clear that a central part of any solution – maybe even the first step – has to be to curtail the inefficiencies and wastes in the system – in terms of corruption at all levels and in terms of waste and excess. However, while that is necessary, it will not be sufficient. Simply given the demographic realities of Pakistan, a real growth impetus will be necessary. If the corruption and waste continues, this growth will be further stymied. But, even if the corruption and waste was checked real and sustained growth will be needed. Where do you think it can come from? And how? That, in essence, is the strategic question.
The new development approach that Dr. Nadeem-ul-Haque and the Planning Commission have begun the discussion with is built on four pillars:
- Increase productivity – Through Innovation
- Create Competitive Conditions – Through Internal Markets
- Urban Management – Through Creative Cities
- Youth Engagement – Through Mobilizing the Energies of the Young
There is, of course, much more beneath each of these ‘motors’ of growth – productivity, competitiveness, urban management and youth engagement. More importantly, what are the mechanisms in policy of unleashing the potential in these areas? And what other areas might one think of (knowing that long laundry lists of litany are not what strategy is made of!).
We will share more of what the Planning Commission and others are thinking of on these. But, first, we thought we should ask you what you think!
Growth can only come from private entrepreneurs. The role of govt is only to create conditions in which entrepreneurs can flourish. Right now government is a hurdle to enterprise. Strategy has to focus on institutions which can change this. I remember seeing something on ATP about ease of doing business index. That is what the strategy should focus on.
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “Stop fmly planning. Encourage ppl to hve more kids!!”
– “and then wail for infrasturcture?”
– “I am glad they are asking for advice and suggestions. Such a strategy must have national ownership. The key point is having a strategy for youth involvement. The young in Pakistan are a real timebomb specially without jobs. The mullah has realized that and is already using that to turn the young into REAL bombs. Our policy makers need to do that too. The way to difuse these human bombs is by giving them jobs and employment.”
– “Just reduce the bureacracy that faces business and see how things will flourish.”
– “2 words. contract enforcement.”
– ” very simple 1 child per house hold……..like china did ………govt should impose this mandetory law in the entire country for the next 25 years.things will start changing ………unless this population growth will not be controlled we can not plan any policy towards prosperity….whatever our resources are they are not enough to feed the entire country….so govt should impose strict measures to control population…how it could be done …through media education….newspapers……municiple level….constituency level where family planning importance should be given…….people should be tought safe sex education conterceptive medicines….and other measures to control birth………..this education should be given both men and women ……having sex should be for pleasure rather then for making babies our govt has to educate this to it people…..govt should provide free good quaility condums plus conterceptives to poor as much as they want to …..this thing might looks so funny to read but this is reality we have to step in to this otherwise we will never be a properous nation in furture….”
I attended Dr. Haque’s growth workshop in Lahore. Someone made a wonderful point. He had been part of the Planning Commission in the 90’s and had attended similar workshops. He remembered that the stuff being discussed in 2010 was the same as in early 90’s.
I know Dr. Haque is adamant that learning is a continuous process and we need to continue to think about our growth strategy. That’s somewhat true, but the basic problems in our country are pretty straightforward. Our problem is not in economic thought, but simply in the political economy.
Another thing. Dr. Haque is a Chicago School economist. Believes in free markets. I think he’s a bit of a misfit in the Planning Commission in Pakistan (a country where the government interferes in most markets and messes things up).
We’ve got an extremely influential Finance Minister in Dr. Hafeez. Shahid Kardar is governor State Bank. These are all well educated, liberal economics minded people. Frankly, the economic reforms in Pakistan have been somewhere between low and none. If the government depends on coalition partners who blackmail them on issues like petroleum subsidies, then these people can’t do much.
I say forget the consensus building. Anyone who has worked / lived in Pakistan knows it can never happen. I say ram through well thought economic reforms. Be cautious with opening your economy (we are reasonably open), but start making reforms. Starting with an agricultural tax. Its scandalous that people over the 200,000 rs bracket don’t pay agriculture tax.
Dr. Adil Najam,
First of all, you are a Doctor as you have a PhD, so you should call yourself Dr. Adil Najam (please don’t be so humble, you deserve the title for the hardwork you put in).
Now,
I will concentrate on talking about education…
. Abolish all private education and different provincial education board. We are a small country and don’t need Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, etc board (sure in Kashmir, you can teach Kashmiri as a subject, in Balochistan, Balochi, and so on as an optional course). When countries like Zimbabwe can have top notch education standard, so can Pakistan, no excuse.
I say gradually fire all of teachers who are barely educated and hire (hire foreigners if you have to) who are qualified to teach.
Also, integrate Islamic studies all the way from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and please make up your mind – shut down all non-Madrasa schools by integrating all subjects in Madrasa schools or vice-versa shut down all Madrasa schools by integrating same level of Islamic Education into non-Madrasa schools (ideally Pakistanis should be pro in both – Islamic studies and Worldly subjects).
When the kid reaches Grade 11 then they can have different fields to specialize: Business, Engineering, Medicine, Literature (english/urdu) or Islamic Studies.
Our kids don’t have good education facilities – broken walls, no playing ground, no sports/academic clubs, no wood/metal worshops, no cooking classes so how do you expect your youth to be inspired and to remain non-political?
As for Universities and community Colleges, please make separate university and community college campus for girls and boys. Both girls and boys deserve to study and especially in rural areas and among conservative families, then will be more likely to send their girls to study post-secondary if you provide them with a compatible environment (sure it won’t help in workplace but education is first and must be obtained).
There is also good argument for making separate boys/girls universities/colleges – in Medical school majority students are girls but most of them don’t work in the medical field once they graduate. So why not let them study but have equal number of seats for boys in separate campus?
Please start your education revolution from the most backward and rural areas of Pakistan and make education free – you will see the difference. Offer all students free, healthy, filling breakfast as an incentive – dig deep in your pockets.
Forget about making Pakistan rich overnight, just work on this and you will make 100s of millions of Pakistanis proud of their Country.
If PPP wants to leave a good legacy, then this is it – fix education, make it corruption free and people will love you for it. I beg you Sir, please fix our education.
Economic growth directly related to law and order situation and Justice among provinces.
Justice & provincial autonomy is the key to success for “Pakistan”.
(1) Justice among provinces in Pakistan:
All we need is justice in Pakistan among all provinces, which is very absent in Pakistan since its creation, as NWFP always ask for its royalty of electricity, Baluchistan has not given commands on its own resources, Sindh earn most but don’t get what it deserve, it seems as we did not learned any lessons from 1971 where our enemy India took advantage of injustices with Bengalis, that WAR was PAKISTAN Vs PAKISTAN AND NOT between INDIA Vs PAKISTAN , because BANGLADESH was PAKISTAN then. INDIA intervened with USSR (as any other enemy) in our internal affair as we were doing injustice with Bengalis, otherwise Bangladesh would have still a part of Pakistan, and so if we do “Justice” then India, Israel, USA and the rest of the world simply can’t break Pakistan.
(2) Provincial autonomy is the way forward for Pakistan:
Why Pakistani leaders are afraid of Provincial autonomy in Pakistan?
Foolish leaders of Pakistan think that if we give province its right to rule itself, it will break Pakistan, but to me this will make Pakistan stronger as province will have their future in their own hand, their resources in their own hand, and they will not be angry with the federation that it is NOT giving our rights, our money, our resources, not self-governess, provincial autonomy would thus mean the capacity for a province to govern itself, to determine, without interference from the outside, its own policies and priorities, assured to have the financial capacity to fulfill its responsibilities etc & the federation will get its income as province give them to take care of currency, Military & foreign policy. As Canada a progressing country has provincial autonomy,USA has given autonomy to its states & it’s the only “Super Power” in the whole world, & USSR which was broken due to the same kind of problem now Russia has learned from its past and now has unique policy for its provinces:
Russia consists of 83 “subjects” (divisions)
21 = republics (full autonomy)
46 = oblasts (same as our provinces)
9 = krais (territories – same as provinces)
1 = autonomous oblast (Jewish province with republic autonomy)
4 = autonomous okrugs (districts which are autonomous)
2 = federal cities
Republics differ from other federal subjects in that they have the right to
establish their own official language and have their own constitution.
The chief executive of most republics has the title of “President”
however are appointed by the President of Russia himself. The
President’s nomination must be accepted by the republic’s parliament
for the appointee to be eligible.
Oblasts are administrative units similar to our Pakistani provinces and are less
autonomous than republics, in that they cannot establish their own
language and constitution.
Krais are the same as oblasts; Krais are similar to “territories” (provinces with smaller populations and larger landmasses).
Federal Cities are two in Russia; Moscow and St. Petersburg and have direct control of their own affairs.
Conclusion:
Punjab province which has at least 54% of the Pakistani population has to take a serious step in this matter as without the will of Punjab these imperative things simply can’t happen as the people of Punjab came on streets only then judiciary was restored otherwise it was a daydream, so without the involvement of Punjab province “Justice” & “Provincial autonomy” can’t be achieved and this is the only way to save Pakistan.
Pakistan can only progress when we have Unity among us and for Unity we need “Justice” & “Provincial autonomy”, these things are the key to success for Pakistan, without it our future is bleak.
http://syedarbabahmed.blogspot.com/2009/09/justice -provincial-autonomy-is-key-to.html