National consultation conference: Prime Minister opens inaugural session today

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will open the inaugural session of "National Consultation Conference" of 1000 plus on Friday (today) being organised to finalise "Vision 2025 and next five year development plan" with input from all the stakeholders.
When contacted an official said that the Planning Commission might not require any funding from the Ministry of Finance to implement the vision because it would have access to development funds available for all the sectoral projects in the Annual Development Plan or Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Additionally, the funds would also be available with the ministries concerned and could be utilised for implementation of short and medium term plans, he said, adding that the Planning Commission would require close co-ordination with the ministries and divisions to develop integrated development plan and to avert duplication. The objective of the consultative conference is to take input from parliamentarians, think tanks, academia, journalists, business leaders and intelligentsia to ensure as broad participation as possible in developing a future plan for the country.
Talking to Business Recorder, former finance minister Salman Shah said that consultation with political parties and other stakeholders was positive but the main challenge was whether the Planning Commission would be able to implement their recommendations.
He said that the present government was also in an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and any conflict of reforms proposed by the Planning Commission with those agreed with the Fund could create serious problems for the government. It remained to be seen as to how the Planning Commission would implement the ambitious vision and five year plan and bring about reform in the economy to take it at par with fast developing countries in the region, he added.
The conference would be followed by the formation of various groups with tentative meeting dates and would be given December 31 deadline to submit their recommendations prior to the finalisation of Pakistan Vision 2025 and 11 five year plan. The prime minister would also share his vision for the future of the country with the participants. Planning Commission has invited participants through a letter stating that the country is facing economic and security challenges and that the energy crisis has almost crippled every sphere of national life and emphasised the need for long-term as well as medium-term plans to lay down economic priorities of the country.
The inaugural address of the prime minister will be followed by brainstorming sessions in groups formed under seven major thematic areas of Vision 2025. These areas include: Integrated Energy, Self Reliance, Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, Human and Social Capital, Value-addition and Competitiveness in Productive Sectors, Modernisation of Infrastructure and Regional Connectivity, SMEs and Private Sector Led Growth, and Security, Institutional Reforms and Democratic Governance.