Some Problems of Perspective Planning in Pakistan

The growing confidence of Pakistan's planners in the nation's economic future is indicated by the boldness of their successive plans and by the lengthening of their time horizon. As far as the latter is concerned, the First FiveYear Plan did not reflect any thinking on economic and social development beyond a specific five-year period; the Second Plan, however, contained some remarks on long-term growth; the Third Plan is being prepared in close relation to the work being done on the Perspective Plan. What fifteen years ago would have been regarded as a waste of time is now considered to be of basic importance for sound planning. What nobody dared think about in the earlier days is now the subject of serious analysis and policy-making.