Consensus building on economic policy reforms stressed

Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission stressed the need for wide ranging debate and consensus building on economic policy reform in the country. He was presiding over a national workshop on "Structural Transformation and Inclusive Growth" here.
Dr Nadeem highlighted the need to seriously review current paradigm of Plan-Project-Policy Reform in the country and reverse the sequence to focus on policy first and economic reform. He also stressed that policy analysis and consensus building should precede policy preparation and the planning process and preparation of projects should follow.
He also called for focusing on unleashing the power of endogenous growth based on innovative ideas and Entrepreneurship with scientific underpinnings. He said the real constraint to unleashing growth was the dearth of innovative ideas and a supportive regulatory and economic environment.
"This required broad based ownership of a clear long term economic vision", he remarked. He advocated the need for a serious process of informed debate on economic policymaking at all levels and particularly with the political representatives in order to develop a broad based consensus for reforms.
This, he said, was the necessary foundation for any long-term sustainable growth initiatives with a key focus on improving implementation. The workshop was the first in a series of three proposed sessions sponsored by UKaid which will attempt to bring together different stakeholders in the economy with economic analysts and policy makers, in informed debates on selected pressing economic issues. The workshop was structured around three sessions.
The speakers included Dr Hafiz Pasha, Dean of Social Sciences, Beaconhouse National University and Chairperson of Prime Minister of Pakistan's Panel of Economic Advisors, Jesus Felipe and Ramesh Subramaniam from the Asian Development Bank, Hamid Mukhtar from the World Bank and Ali Cheema, Head of the Economics Department at the Lahore University of Management Sciences.
While Pasha's presentation focused on the recommendations of the final report of the Panel of Economists, the ADB team focused on the need for structural transformation and how that process has evolved in emerging economies. Mukhtar's presentation dealt in detail on the key issue of public expenditure reforms. Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Social Sectors presided over the afternoon session on addressing vulnerabilities.
During this session Dr Cheema presented an analysis of the social protection programmes in Pakistan and the issues that need to be reviewed to improve these programs. Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, while highlighting the Government's commitment to protecting the vulnerable in society, reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the analytical basis of all Government Policies and Programs and bringing about a consensus for reform. Winding up the discussions Dr Nadeem-ul-Haque, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission called on all stakeholders to work together in moving the policy debate forward.