National Assembly Special Committee on Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) expressed dissatisfaction over new economic growth model based on inclusive growth developed by Planning Commission of Pakistan (PC) terming it trap that focuses only economic growth. Special Committee meeting MDG chaired by Shahnaz Wazir Ali expressed its concern over proposed closure of Centre for Research on Poverty Reduction and Income Distribution (CRPRID) and turning it in to Inclusive Growth Center by Planning Commission.
Committee members were surprised to know that Planning Commission of Pakistan has no mechanism for monitoring, tracking, evaluating and data development on MDGs. Committee directed to PC to give a comprehensive presentation of institutional mechanism developed in PC for monitoring, evaluating and data collection and maintenance for policy formulation. Bushra Gohar criticised the PCs approach for not maintaining separate MDGs data of FATA, AJ&K and Gilgit-Baltistan and including this in provincial data of Khyber Pakthunkhwa province. The committee took serious notice of absence of Deputy Chairman Planning Commission in the meeting and directed PC officials to make sure his presence in next meeting. Members of the committee were not satisfied with the presentation given by PC officials on MDGs on reducing Child Mortality and Improving Maternal Health.
Dr Nafisa Shah MNA submitted her note against the new growth model and said to meet the MDGs Pakistan need direct interventions on social sector and human development for poverty reduction in the country and new growth model would not help achieve these key objectives. The committee members were amazed to know that presentation on MDGs prepared by PC is based on data developed on data and figures compiled by UNDP and there is no data available with Planning Commission for tracking of MDGs in Pakistan. Hamayun Saifullah Khan was critical on GDP growth of the country and was of the view that with 03 percent GDP growth country would not be able to reduce its poverty and poverty would increase with this growth rate. He said three per cent GDP growth would only cover population growth and in real terms there would be no growth.
