Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would address the inaugural session of "National Conference" on next five-year plan being organised by the Planning Commission on November 22, to solicit proposals from 1,000 plus stakeholders about future course of country's development.
Sources said that on the directives of Prime Minister, the Planning Commission has initiated work on preparation of Pakistan next five-year plan and Vision 2025, and the conference was being organised in that connection. All the stakeholders including political parties' parliamentarians, think tanks, academia, journalists, business leaders and intelligentsia are being consulted to ensure the broad possible participation in developing the future plan for the country.
The 'National Conference' being held at Jinnah Convention Centre would be followed by formation of various groups with the tentative dates of December 31 to finalise the next five-year plan. The Prime Minister would open the conference and would share his vision for the future.
Sources said the Minister for Planning and Reforms invited the participants through a letter stating that the country was facing economic and security challenges and on top of that energy crisis had almost crippled every sphere of national life. The Planning Commission is preparing long-term and medium-term plans to lay down economic priorities of the country.
The Minister further maintained that most importantly, the country failed to pursue the transformational agenda set out under Pakistan 2010 Programme in 1998 to align Pakistan with the new challenges of knowledge revolution, globalisation, regionalisation, demographics and information technology. The continuation of the same path would lead the country to even worst water crisis than the energy crisis in next 10 years.
Therefore, the Prime Minister has desired to initiate work on preparation of Pakistan Vision 2025 and 11th Five-Year Plan (2013-18) to turn Pakistan into one of the fastest growing economies in Asia on priority basis. The Minister urged 1,000 plus stakeholders to attend the conference and join the government in building the vision for the future of Pakistan.