Professor Huda's conference address on the "Planning
Experience in Pakistan" covers, within a space of some twenty pages, a
wide range of issues important for the country's economic planning and
policies. Many problems are not, however, considered at length, and some
questions are just raised for detailed study by experts. But with its
analysis, suggestions and questions, this address is highly stimulating
to economists and policy-makers in their endeavour to identify and
resolve the problems confronting development planning in Pakistan. He
dwells, among other things, on the problems of relationship between the
planning technician and the policy-maker, appropriate planning
techniques, interregional balance in development, the pace and the
pattern of industrialisation, incentives to private enterprise and role
of the public sector, income dis¬tribution and saving generation, and
costs and benefits of external aid. He finally reflects on the major
tasks that should be undertaken in the Fourth-Plan period. The main
focus of the following comments will be on the relationship between the
technician and the politician in development planning, private
incentives and social goals, and income distribution and mobilisation of
domes¬tic savings.
Some Comments and Reflections on "Planning Experience in
Pakistan"
