Open AccessSocial Change—The Essence of Development (Keynote Address)
Author(s) -
N Sadik
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
pakistan development review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.154
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 0030-9729
DOI - 10.30541/v36i4ipp.315-320
Subject(s) - lagging , independence (probability theory) , development economics , social change , agriculture , power (physics) , political science , economics , economic growth , geography , medicine , statistics , physics , mathematics , archaeology , pathology , quantum mechanics
This is a critical historical moment, in the 50th year of ourindependence. Our decisions, commitment and action in the next few yearswill affect our country for much of the 21st century. The decisionsneeded would be a challenge for any country: for Pakistan they involve adrastic change in development priorities. Our development efforts sinceIndependence have gone into building the economy. In the early yearsthis was quite successful: we harnessed the great rivers for power andirrigation; we revolutionised agriculture, we pushed exports up to newlevels. For a time economic growth was quite dynamic. But we were alwaysaware that something was missing. At Independence Pakistan started moreor less even with other countries in the region. All our efforts sincethen have left us lagging behind. In 1950 the Republic of Korea hadabout the same GNP per head as Pakistan. Today Korea’s GNP is $7,670;ours $476. That is a difference of 1,611 percent.