Review: Development Challenges of Pakistan
Imagine a Pakistan where every child gets a fair shot at education, where small farmers thrive, and where growth isn’t just for the privileged few. For decades, Pakistan’s development has been like a train running on broken tracks — moving, but never quite reaching its destination. What keeps the country from achieving lasting, inclusive growth? Here is a book that dives deep into the answers, explores why that vision remains distant and what can be done to change it.
Jamil Nasir's book, Development Challenges of Pakistan, explores the socio-economic and political determinants of the course of development that Pakistan has gone through. It investigates the structural and systemic impediments to the progress of the country. Unlike many discussions that remain fixated with fiscal statistics, Nasir focuses on the socio-political foundations that push or inhibit development. He stresses that growth is necessary, but it must be equitably distributed and inclusive if it is to be sustained.
The book has 15 chapters and tackles three case studies. Each chapter explores a specific issue. It starts with looking at Pakistan's development challenges by examining the underlying socio-economic, cultural, and institutional factors hindering sustainable growth. It delves into issues such as inequitable resource distribution, inefficient governance, inadequate human resource development, and the neglect of rural and agricultural potential.
The discussion extends to structural problems in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, highlighting their interconnected impact on economic and social disparities. It emphasises the role of inclusive policies, social cohesion, and institutional reform in fostering long-term growth.
The book also analyses judicial inefficiencies, corruption, fiscal weaknesses, and the effects of militancy, offering policy recommendations and case studies to underscore the importance of strategic reforms tailored to Pakistan's unique context. In the final chapter it summarises key insights and policy recommendations for sustainable development. The book also contains case studies highlighting specific constraints like talent misallocation, the pitfalls of imposed reforms, and the potential of regional trade.
It is evident from the notes and bibliography sections that the book is backed by extensive research, including robust data analysis and numerous references. The book compares development trajectories of various developing countries, particularly South East Asian nations, and draws actionable insights for Pakistan. The content is designed to benefit a wide audience, including students of development studies, academics, researchers, and policymakers.
The book proposes impactful public policy measures to address critical development challenges in Pakistan. Nasir suggests providing midday school meals to enhance school enrolment and reduce dropout rates, ensuring better access to education for all. For cost-effective healthcare, he emphasises the promotion of generic medicines. Additionally, he advocates for the redistribution of state land to promote equitable economic growth and highlights the importance of supporting small farmer organisations and strengthening the rural non-farm economy to uplift rural areas, thereby fostering growth and improving income levels in these regions.
While inclusivity and social justice are strong points of Nasir's analysis, the author has missed several key factors that have struck at the very roots of Pakistan's development trajectory. Primary among these are the two debilitating wars with India in 1965 and 1971, as these wars not only disrupted economic activity but also siphoned off critical resources away from developmental initiatives towards defense spending. They also generated chronic political instability, which further lowered Pakistan's prospects for long-term development.
The other most crucial omission in the debate relates to the nationalisation policy pursued by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in early 1970s. While the policy was intended to address economic inequality, it had severe unintended consequences. The policies undermined private sector confidence, inhibited domestic and foreign investment, and deterred entrepreneurship. Large financial inefficiencies of state-owned enterprises plagued the economy with losses that remain and continue to drag down the system into the present time. Meanwhile, these conditions allowed other competing developing countries with private sector growth and open markets policies to achieve very large relative progress.
Nasir's analysis of the IMF's role in Pakistan's economic challenges may be overstated, as the issue lies more in Pakistan's inconsistent approach to reforms. While both India and Pakistan faced similar IMF demands in the 1990s, India embraced liberalisation and sustained it over decades, achieving rapid globalisation and high growth rates. In contrast, Pakistan implemented reforms sporadically, maintaining a protectionist stance that has hindered growth. This failure to adapt to global trade dynamics, rather than IMF conditions, is the primary reason Pakistan has lagged, with one of the lowest growth rates in South Asia.
All in all, Development Challenges of Pakistan is a thoroughly researched and insightful work. Its in-depth analysis of systemic issues makes it essential reading for anyone seeking to understand and tackle the complexities of Pakistan’s development. By emphasising human development, equitable growth, and institutional reform, Nasir underscores that sustainable progress is not merely about economic figures but about fostering a society where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.
Dr Manzoor Ahmad is a senior fellow at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics. He has served as Pakistan's ambassador to WTO and FAO's representative to the UN at Geneva
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