Pakistan is facing challenge in bringing the marginalised people and backward regions into main stream of development. This challenge will be addressed in PRSP-II, which has started a dialogue process with the poor, development partners, provincial governments and civil society representatives, quarterly progress report said.
According to the Progress Report for the third quarter of year 2005-06, released by PRSP Secretariat, this process would lead to ownership of PRSP-II by all segments of society and would also help implementing the strategy. The recent economic growth has been translated into lowering unemployment rates and reducing the poverty levels.
Pakistan is able to sustain high growth, while maintaining macroeconomic sustainability over the past four years, which is one of the core elements of PRSP. To sustain this growth momentum, more efforts and 'growth critical reforms' would be required, the report added.
Over the next five years the government's reform agenda includes strengthening institutions, improving competitiveness of industry, building a robust financial system, further strengthening of tax administration, promoting transparency in economic policy-making, reform in capital market and strengthening the country's physical and human infrastructure, report mentioned.
It may be recalled that PRSP-I has completed its 3-years duration in June 2006. Despite the success of PRSP in unemployment and poverty reduction, there are many challenges ahead, including sustainability in high economic growth, high levels of rural poverty, rise in inequality, gender gap in health and education indicators, youth unemployment, and the achievement of millennium development goals (MDGs).
To address these challenges the Ministry of Finance has planned to prepare PRSP-II for 2006-09 period. The strategy is being enriched by the ongoing process of dialogue with civil society and the poor. In February 2006, 54 dialogues were held in 21 districts, with a total of 1,214 participants.
The dialogues were held separately with a total of 646 male and 568 female participants. An effort was made to include diverse groups of participants, including small farmers, daily wage labourers, employees of public and private sectors, unemployed, needy of zakat, people engaged in small enterprise, students etc.
PRSP secretariat also held workshops with researchers, stakeholders including development partners, provincial governments and civil society organisations. More workshops will also be held in provinces to get feedback on the proposed strategy for the PRSP-II.
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