The Planning Commission

History

• 1948: a Development Board was created.
• 1953: the Planning Board was established; it prepared the First Five-Year Plan (1955–60).
• 1958: renamed the Planning Commission; the Second Five-Year Plan (1960–65), with help from Harvard Advisory Group economists, is regarded as Pakistan's most successful.
• Mahbub ul Haq, then chief economist of the Planning Commission, warned in 1968 that 22 families controlled most of Pakistan's industrial and financial assets.
• Long-term plans include Vision 2030 (2007), Vision 2025 (2014) and Uraan Pakistan (2024–29).

Functions

• Prepares five-year and annual development plans.
• Prepares the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) with the Finance Division.
• Appraises development projects through the CDWP.
• Monitors and evaluates projects.
• Advises the government on economic and social policy.
• Coordinates development planning with provinces.
• Oversees major initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Project cycle forms (PC forms)

• PC-I: project document for approval.
• PC-II: feasibility study.
• PC-III: progress reports during implementation.
• PC-IV: completion report.
• PC-V: annual operation reports after completion.

Uraan Pakistan (2024–29)

Launched at the end of 2024, Uraan Pakistan is the national economic plan for 2024–29, built around the '5Es': Exports, E-Pakistan (digital economy), Environment and climate, Energy and infrastructure, and Equity and empowerment.

Challenges

• Plans abandoned or changed with governments.
• Weak link between plans and annual budgets.
• Too many projects with too little funding, leading to delays.
• Reduced role after the 18th Amendment, as many subjects moved to provinces.
• Limited research capacity and data.

Conclusion

The Planning Commission can be the brain of the government's development effort. Its effectiveness depends on continuity of plans, rigorous project appraisal and genuine coordination with the provinces.