A COMPARISON OF VISION 2025 - WITH PREVIOUS TWO VISIONS AND THE FEC - KEY HIGHLIGHTS ONLY

Yesterday's BR Research column titled 'How new is the new vision 2025?' (on page 2) alluded that the big difference between the three Visions, and the FEG lies not in dramatic shift in ideas (except for the case of Vision 2010, which was rather rudimentary) but in other not-so-key parts of any vision.
These differences include a more in-depth argument to make a case that was already made earlier, increasing reliance on quantitative and qualitative research to explain the problem and shed a bit of light on solution (where FEG is still the best), a move from generality of idea to specificity of thought with some policy suggestions, and lastly a fancier layout and presentation with even fancier jargons that basically say the same thing in different words. We hope this table, which compares some of the key areas of the three visions and the FEG, would help generate a healthy debate on the subject.

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Focus areas                Vision 2010                                      Vision 2030                                                   FEG                                                                   Vision 2025

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STATE & MARKET             Public private partnership. Govt role            Public private partnership. Govt to focus only on             Govt-led growth has to change. It is not a govt versus                Public private partnerships. Govt sees itself primarily as a

                           limited; private-led growth Govt to provide      core functions of regulation and provision of                 markets' approach but a 'govt and markets' approach.                  facilitator, enabler and regulator of private initiative and

                           environment; govt role is to regulate,           essential services. Main thrust on private sector led         Reorienting the role of govt; exit from markets and deeper            enterprise, rather than an overarching direct producer of

                           policy & mentoring of private sector.            development with govt. providing the enabling                 deregulation. Govt to complement an efficient competitive             goods and services itself. Govt to create conditions for rule of

                           Entrepreneurship a key goal.                     environment. Liberalisation, privatisation and                market. Govt to confine itself to the policy and regulation.          law, by strengthening judicial system, police and the criminal

                                                                            de-regulation: key pillars of economic policy. Private        justice, system, and reviewing rules and regulations.

                                                                            sector participation in social sectors.

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CIVIL SERVICE              Good Governance Commission to be                 Professionalism of civil servants is critical to reform       Reforming civil service is critical for improving public sector       Perverse incentive structures to be rationalised. Complete

                           formed. Improvements in incentive                process. Extensive administrative reforms for better          management. Civil service compensation brought in line with           overhaul of civil services planned. Proffesionalisation of civil

                           structure, institutions, and ongoing             co-ordination across all govt. tiers.                          private sector compensation. Monetisation of perks will result        servants - inter alia performance evaluation, professional

                           training for civil servants.                                                                                   in efficiency gains and significant financial benefits for the        qualification and career track specialisation. A National University

                           govt. Provide trainings.                                                                                       of Public Policy and Administration (NUPPA) to be formed.

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LAW & JUSTICE              Centre piece must be justice. Law                Justice must become the bedrock of our society Ac-            Security, justice and rule of law highlighted as must-have key        Rule of law and social justice are key enablers. Govt to ensure

                           Commission to propose and roll out               cess to justice whereby redress is available and              social contract goods. The govt's role must be to protect             strict enforcement of the rule of law, by strengthening judicial

                           judiciary reforms.                               dispensable to all. Development of legal/regulatory           public interests and rights, provide public goods, enforce            system, revamping police and the criminal justice system,

                                                                            frameworks to minimise risks in public-private                laws, and punish exploitative practices. Better configuration is      reviewing rules and regulations and re-enforcing formal and

                                                                            partnerships. Focus on economic justice as well,              required between law and economics - particularly in                  informal channels. Criminal justice system to be reformed;

                                                                            flowing from equitable &inclusive society.                    property rights and sanctity of contracts. Rule of law is also        civil code and statutes will be revisited and reviewed,

                                                                                                                                          highlighted as an important element for productivity. Policy,         especially with respect to ensuring competition, a level playing

                                                                                                                                          law and regulation must seek to minimise transactions costs.          field and deterring collusive or rent seeking behaviour.

                                                                                                                                          Lawyers and judges should be trained in handling commercial           Reforms will be accelerated in the provinces to create smart

                                                                                                                                          cases effectively and quickly.                                        and community oriented Police, well equipped to fight crime.

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DECENTRALIZATION/          Phased decentralization of the polity &           Decentralization and devolution will be the main             Decentralize responsibility for projects to line ministries.          Establishment of a national social protection framework to

DEVOLUTION                 administration. Devolution to provincial,         areas of administrative reform. Most govt. functions         Decentralize planning and service delivery. Post-devolution the       harmonize federal and provincial level policies and programs

                           district & finally to local level.                will be devolved to provincial and local govts.              requirements for capacity and better governance should be             to remove regional disparities. The federation is to be

                                                                                                                                          chalked out at all operational levels.                                strengthened by promoting inter-provincial and federal-

                                                                                                                                                                                                                provincial communication. Forums such as the National

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Economic Council, Council of Common Interests and the

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ministry for Inter-provincial co-ordination and Inter-province

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ministers Committees will be leveraged to improve

                                                                                                                                                                                                                co-ordination and communication between the provinces and

                                                                                                                                                                                                                the Centre. Foster local and innovative solutions to local

                                                                                                                                                                                                                problems through community organisation in collaboration

                                                                                                                                                                                                                with city governments.

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EDUCATIONIHUMAN CAPITAL    Primary emphasis on social & human                Knowledge inputs and human capital are the                   Human capital is key determinant of growth. Human resource            Human and social capital is one of the key areas of focus.

                           capital. Investing in human resources and         substance of this vision. High growth rate would be          development plays crucial role in this strategy. Pakistan must        Quality education must for 'knowledge economy'. Education is

                           dynamic productivity enhancement                  sustained through developing human resources.                open its domestic talent market to global pool of talent.             a devolved but federal govt will help provinces in achieving

                           measures. High investment in education.           Plans to achieve significant breakthroughs in                                                                                      education MDGs & help reduce provincial educational

                                                                             education. Triple public spending on education/skill                                                                               inequities. Education & research network of universities

                                                                             development. Aims for universal primary and                                                                                        leading to international partnership program. A University Job

                                                                             secondary enrolment and completion. One curriculum                                                                                 Creation fund to develop linkages between higher education

                                                                             and one national examination system; technical and                                                                                 and labour market. Customized curriculum in universities and

                                                                             vocational stream in last two years of secondary                                                                                   tailored academic degree programmes to respond to

                                                                             schools. Education at all tiers will be the prime focus                                                                            industries' demands. A university campus in each district and

                                                                             to develop a competitive and thinking mind.                                                                                        strengthening of online programmes.

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INNOVATION/PRODUCTIVITY    National innovation system. Link FDI to           An innovative society must be put in place before            National Innovation Agency to be guided by thinkers,                  Put Pakistan on the innovation map of the world. Triple labour

                           technology transfer programme. Cluster            any other expectations can be made. Spirit for               innovators and corporate leaders.Creating incentives to               and capital productivity by 2025. Strengthening Intellectual

                           Councils between academia, govt and               innovation to be enhanced through better laws, and           cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship. Invite talented            Property Rights. A cluster based development approach to

                           private business sector to promote R&D.           world class quality & standards. Productivity levels         members of the Pakistani diaspora through the National                improve competitiveness of designated business sectors.

                                                                             of Pakistan need to be enhanced through human                Rejuvenation Program as lecturers, mentors and consultants.           National innovation initiative, and National Innovation Awards

                                                                             resource development and deploying knowledge                                                                                       to be launched. Institutionalization of mechanisms for

                                                                             inputs.                                                                                                                            commercialization of research at Pakistani

                                                                                                                                                                                                                universities/research organisations. Assistance in filing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                local/international patents. Foster entrepreneurship

                                                                                                                                                                                                                eco-system within educational institutions. A nation-wide

                                                                                                                                                                                                                quality and productivity awareness campaign to be launched.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                National Productivity Council to be revived and professional-

                                                                                                                                                                                                                ised. NPC to conduct Regular competitiveness audits and

                                                                                                                                                                                                                publish annual competitiveness reports.

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FOCUS ON CITIES            No explicit focus                                 Cities as engines of growth. Making cities                   Creative cities for growth & poverty reduction. Vibrant cities in     Concept of 'smart cities'. Urbanization an important driver of

                                                                             competitive in global and regional context.                  an enabling environment will be hotspots for entrepreneurship         growth. Transforming urban areas into creative, eco-friendly

                                                                             Metropolitan economic planning across entire urban           and innovation. Cities as the melting pot for immigrants, the         sustainable cities through improved city governance, urban

                                                                             regions. Building new cities on west of Indus. Major         dynamics on innovation and entrepreneurship will be unleashed.        planning, local mobility infrastructure (mass transit systems)

                                                                             cities envisioned as hubs of trade and commerce.                                                                                   and better security. Community based participation will be

                                                                                                                                                                                                                promoted. Envisions digitally connected cities, equipped with

                                                                                                                                                                                                                wireless network sensors. Competitiveness Index will

                                                                                                                                                                                                                be introduced at the provincial level, and Annual Provincial

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Competitiveness reports will provide implementable

                                                                                                                                                                                                                recommendations.

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URBAN DEVELOPMENT          No explicit focus                                 Mass transit systems in major cities. Strengthening          Focus on urban development as a crucible for the nurturing of         A 'Housing information system' to provide data on housing

                                                                             the teaching of urban management and municipal               innovation entrepreneurship and productivity. At lower tier,          demand and supply to be established. Private sector to be

                                                                             engineering at university level. Improved land               cities with 1 million population and above to be encouraged to        encouraged to provide housing facilities. Zoning laws to be

                                                                             acquisition, zoning and development, house                   design their own urban development strategies. Develop                revised; use of 'mixed use' areas - residential and

                                                                             construction and financing schemes.                          strategies to attract and manage resources with optimal use           commercial.' Katchi abadis' to be replaced by low income

                                                                                                                                          of land and building infrastructure and delivering public             residential buildings with adequate provision of sewerage,

                                                                                                                                          services. Expand inner city markets, promote city cluster             clean water, and basic utilities such as gas and electricity. A

                                                                                                                                          development, and amend the zoning and building regulation.            move towards vertical expansion in city centres will provide

                                                                                                                                                                                                                residential facilities in addition to commercial space to city

                                                                                                                                                                                                                inhabitants. Envisions public transport including mass transit

                                                                                                                                                                                                                systems.

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EXTERNAL TRADE             A shift from protection to competition.           govt. to facilitate competitive markets within               The strategy aims for a flourishing export sector supported by        An export led growth strategy will be pursued; promotion of

                           Double the per capita income through              domestic players, with imports; and in international         reductions in anti-export bias and improved logistics.                export oriented industry. Exports are a victim of protectionist

                           export-led growth. Export led                     markets. Encouraging integration in the world                Re-establishment of unilateral trade liberalisation programme.        tendencies; envisions a shift to provide incentives to industries

                           industrialization specially technology            economy primarily through attraction of foreign              Thorough review of economic justifications for                        to move their production from low value to high value products.

                           based industries. Attract FDI for                 investment and increased trade. Focus on                     sectors/industries benefiting from above normal protection.           Improve export competitiveness, and gain higher share in global

                           production for exports.                           increasing export competitiveness. Pursuance of              Regional trade key for improving Pakistan's growth prospects          markets besides diversification of products and regions. Plans

                                                                             export oriented industrialisation strategy &                 in short and medium term. Tap the export potential of services        to improve supply chains and integrate them with world market.

                                                                             facilitating exports. Inefficiencies of import               sectors, particularly transport, communications, banking,             Betterment in trade diplomacy and regional trade enhancing

                                                                             substitution will be reduced through tariff                  insurance and retail sectors.                                         initiatives, including Saarc and Asean markets.

                                                                             rationalization and export led strategy. Larger share

                                                                             in the export of service sector.

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PAKISTAN AS                No explicit focus                                  National Trade Corridor Initiative to overhaul entire        No specific mention of trade corridor; but talks about regional       Emphasises on the development of multiple corridors of

 TRADE CORRIDOR                                                               logistics chain, physical connectivity and processes         connectivity and improving transport, ICT, human resource             regional cooperation, involving energy, industry, trade and

                                                                              across north-south corridor. Energy corridor also to         connectivity, vibrant border towns, public-private partnership for    transportation & communication. Pakistan to can serve as a

                                                                              be opened.                                                   infrastructural projects, and becoming a regional hub of aviation.    hub and corridor of regional trade and help integrate these

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 regions into an interconnected market. Establishing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 North-South and East-West corridors and developing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 linkages through road and rail to Central Asian States, China,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 and other neighbouring countries and development of a

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 separate freight corridor on railway tracks.

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