Saneela Aslam
Ensuring economic growth benefits everyone – the idea of inclusive growth – has become a political priority. Inclusive Growth – growth that benefits everyone – is in manner. Its promising a more prosperous economy combined with a more equitable society, is proving irresistible Originally halting from economists working in developing countries, the term inclusive growth emerged during the 2000s when organizations such as the World Bank realized their economic forecasts were proving to be blemished. Growth in developing countries was not always subsequent in the reductions in inequality and increases in living standards that had been expected. A more preemptive approach was required to ensuring growth was more inclusive and did not simply pass many people and places by. Responsibilities for inclusive growth should be shared between individuals, employers and the state. Our work focusses on the role that cities – as engines of growth but also locations of the extreme levels of poverty – can play in creating inclusive economies. Cities comprise the businesses, employers, policy architects, service providers, institutions and communities that interrelate and shape the nature of local growth. These networks within cities create jobs and the opportunities for citizens to access them. Cities are by no means all that matter, but their role in championing an inclusive growth program should not be underestimated.The dual emphasis on outcomes as well as opportunities is what defines an inclusive growth plan from a narrower inclusion agenda. Connecting people up to the opportunities that exist in the labor market through better education, transport and employment support is vigorous. But intervention is also required to stimulus the growth side of the equation. An inclusive growth strategy must pursue to proactively stimulus and shape the nature of employment opportunities. This includes enhancing employers’ demand for skills, shaping the occupational and sectorial make-up of the economy, and ultimately pushing up levels of pay and improving terms and situations of employment contracts. Pakistan inclusive growth condition: The inclusive growth concept is that when economic growth takes place in a nation, that nation achieved growth for all sections of the population. The entire economy benefited from growth. Pakistan was one of the most emerging developing countries in the world in the first four decades, the growth rate was hovered in between 6 to 7 percent but, later we could not sustain the growth and after the 1990s the economy starts to deteriorate and in the 2018/19 economic growth recorded only 3.5 percent. Pakistan is facing fluctuating growth since the 1990s. Sustainable economic growth is a very important concept of inclusive growth. Growth should be taken for a long period of a time period. Growth can be sustained for longer when growth benefited all segments of society. The large chunk of the Pakistan population lives in rural without bringing growth in rural areas we cannot consider growth take place. To achieve sustainable growth there need to heed rural areas, skilled formation programs, and another technical workshop are required to establish. The result of the skilled formation programs labor’s productivity will increase that will accelerate the production. There are some schemes that have been launched by the government to assist poor people. i.e. Benazir income support program, Asha’sinseam programs, etc. these programs are just feeding the poor people that are not going any impact on growth. To bring productive and efficient programs is the Status quo requirement for the economy. Human development and inclusive growth are very closely related concepts. There is required to huge investment in human capital (education, health, and standard of living). Pakistan has been part of various human development programs (MDGs but unfortunately Pakistan could not achieve a single which were set in that program. The government makes sure primary schooling for every child. And provide opportunities for higher education. Pakistan has been allotted only 2 to 3 percent of GDP for education, which is not sufficient to meet the requirement that’s why Pakistan has around 60% percent of literacy rate. The government needs to give priority for education than other expenditures. Women have a very important role to achieve growth. In Pakistan, around 23% of women are participating in the growth process. Pakistan must provide easy doing business opportunities and to women for enrollment in the growth process. There need to bring skill and employment programs for women. Reduction poverty and regional disparity are one of the main features of inclusive growth. Around 30% of the population is living under the poverty line and regions have been facing regional disparities. Pakistan regional disparity data shows that Baluchistan, former FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, South Punjab, and the tribal areas of KPK are the most victims. These regions have a higher poverty rate than others and the ratio of migration toward cities are high too from these regions because of lacking employment opportunities for employment. Poverty and regional disparity are closely related to each other. The government must give importance to these backward regions to bring out them from the backwardness. The government should grant special packages for the regions for investing in education/knowledge and infrastructure. By establishing schools, colleges, universities, and other technical institute’s people will become more skillful and productive. By investing in the infrastructure, regions will connect with other cities. As investment in infrastructure provides easy doing business for investors that give incentive for investment. Establishing industries and business opportunities will create employment and earning opportunities that will directly impact the health of people by accessing better nourishment. Growth policies must be sustained and pro-environment. When growth occurs at the cost of resources which nature has endowed the economy width can’t be sustained you may grow fast, you may have a high growth rate, but future generation has no natural resources, no coal resources, and no water resources left. Growth must not be depletion of resources and objective of growth must ,not only for present or intermediate future, but it must also be for distant future, that growth is very important, very realistic and very relevant objective for Pakistan’s economic growth.
