The available data about the state of economy never been reliable in the country and documentation of the economy still remained a far dream. As a whole, business and industry are none issues for the political elite and increase in the gross domestic product is the outcome of independent market forces without any active participation of the government in the development process. The pathetic part of the situation is that no reliable data is available to ascertain the real growth in agriculture, industrial or social sectors. The economic policies laid down by the government on the basis of mere assessments always resulted in failure. According to newspaper reports, the current year’s real GDP growth target was set at 5.5 percent and the government was hoping that it will achieve 3.9 percent growth in agriculture, 6.4 percent in industrial and 5.7 percent in services sectors. However, the provisional GDP growth is recorded at 4.07 percent to the much disappointment of the nation.
Economists believe the government will now eye onachieving 5.7 percent growth next year after missing the current year’s target. According to the medium-term macroeconomic framework, the economy was to grow by 6.5 percent this year. However, the agriculture sector recorded a negative growth of 0.19 percent and even then the government is looking to achieve 3.48 percent growth next year. A low production in cotton crop has pushed the textile sector to import this commodity from India. However, it is hoped that the industrial sector will give good performance and is expected to grow by 7.7 percentduring the next financial year. The large-scale manufacturing is likely to grow by 5.9 percent next year against 4.61 percent growth recorded this year. The construction sector, which is an engine of growth for over 40 subsidiary industries, has the potentials to grow by 13.2 percent next year against 13.1 percentthis year.
The first and prime objective of the government should be to create soft image of Pakistan and rid itself of the US war on terror. Pakistan is facing various challenges at home and half of which are the products of foreign interference. When the US president can visit Vietnam which is still a nightmare for the US army, why it cannot make peace with Pakistan. If India is ready to establish friendship with far-flung countries, why it cannot resolve its outstanding issues with Pakistan. The first priority of the Pakistani leadership should also be business and economy and not politics. Peace on borders means peace in the country and peace in the country means peace in the region.
