Pakistan's Development Challenges: Inefficiency and Accountability Issues in Planning
Pakistan's development has been hindered by mismanagement of the Public Sector Development Programme, resulting in significant financial losses. A lack of accountability in planning processes has led to numerous unfinished projects and a deepening fiscal crisis.
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The Public Sector Development Programme in Pakistan, crucial for infrastructure and economic growth, has failed due to a planning system that lacks accountability. In 2014, an allocation of $11.57 billion was made, but mismanagement resulted in ghost projects and delays, exemplified by the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project's cost overruns from an initial estimate of 15.3 billion rupees to 508 billion rupees.
The liquefied natural gas import bill has incurred over $52 billion in losses, alongside a $12 billion gas circular debt. Essential projects like the Kachhi Canal, estimated at 32 billion rupees, now exceed 80 billion rupees and remain incomplete.
A demand for public evaluations of projects from 2013 to 2018 highlights the need for reform in the Planning Commission, which should be replaced by a technology-driven institution to ensure transparency and accountability. The ongoing inefficiencies risk exacerbating Pakistan's socio-economic challenges.
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