There are structural problems
and issues in the systems of governance in South Asia which are the main
impediment to sustainable growth and development in the region.
Speakers
at the concluding day of the 14th Sustainable Development Conference
here on Thursday stressed the need for opening up of minds and doors for
discussions of controversial issues to promote better livelihood within
the countries of South Asia.
The three-day conference titled
`Re-defining paradigms of sustainable development in South Asia` was
organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute.
Dr Nadeemul
Haque, the deputy chairman of Planning Commission, stressed
collaboration among academicians and researchers in order to determine
the future course of action for Pakistan.
“We need practical and
creative research agenda to save this country and ensure its sustainable
development,” Dr Haque added. The most unfortunate thing, he added, is
that majority of research in social sector and economy is being
conducted by consultants of donor agencies.
Shahid Kardar, former
governor State Bank of Pakistan, said structural flaws were affecting
the sustainability and causing economic imbalance.
“All issues
faced by the country are backed by structural problems,” Mr Kardar
observed, adding: “Pakistan has one of the lowest tax collection rates
while the subsidies are high on many things like fertilizers, and
state-owned entities like PIA and Railways are making huge losses
daily.”
He said it was difficult to manage these issues and the country was continuously moving deeper into debts.
“If
the provinces cannot tax the agriculture sector, why is the federal
government subsidising fertilizer? It should be done by the provinces,”
he remarked. Similarly, electricity consumers in Lahore are bound to pay
the line loss incurred by Hesco as people of Sindh are not paying
bills. “Let them plug the loss and be sustainable.”
To get out of
the financial quagmire, Pakistan needs strong decisions to tax all those
who are eligible for it, and all the players, including the government,
private sector and civil society, have to change lifestyle, he added.
“Only then, we can ask the masses to render sacrifices,” Mr Kardar said.
In
the session on `Governance challenges`, the panelists were largely of
the view that governance was a broader concept than the outdated idea of
merely a “government”, and is achieved through fostering interaction
between the three pillars of societal structures – state, civil society
and private sector or market.
Speakers at the session on `Costs of
economic non-cooperation to consumers in South Asia` stressed that the
consumers would be the main beneficiary, especially in Pakistan and
India, with active cross-border trade liberalisation.
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