WHY REDUCE POVERTY AND INEQUAILTY

          Pakistan, despite a population of about 190 million, has a limited market. A large majority of the people is poor and does not have sufficient money to buy goods other than food. The elite and upper middle classes, who have the resources, prefer to buy foreign goods. Industrial development will be possible by creating the demand for goods and services by raising the income level of the poor.

Pakistan has regional and ethnic inequality. Such inequality raises social and political tensions. The development strategy must aim at reducing inequality. Planning for this purpose must be regional to be coordinated at provincial and national levels. Again, the planning has to be bottom-up.

Mahmood Mirza