- An economic body with a difference?
At first sight, the new National Development Council seems to be a mere repetition of a number of already existing bodies, especially in view of its mandate, which is to formulate policies for development, economic growth and regional cooperation. As the government already has the Economic Committee of the Cabinet, the Finance Ministry, the Planning and Development Ministry and the Commerce Ministry to execute policy, the Council of Common Interests for a certain portion of state enterprises and the National Economic Council for development decisions, while it has already set up the Economic Advisory Council, the new Council seems only different in having the Chief of Army Staff as a member. The Finance and Commerce Ministers (both presently unelected PM’s Advisers) are understandable, but the COAS? The job does not demand economic expertise, while the present incumbent is not known to have economics or development as a hobby. Does the Army being the largest single recipient of government money make him qualify? Does its role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, where it guarantees the security of Chinese engineers working here? If so, the Planning and Development Minister has been omitted. Is that omission significant, especially when the scope of the new body was broad enough to draw in the Foreign Minister?
Including the COAS may be the purpose of the Council, but there are two other major forums where he can make his views known, the Defence Committee of the Cabinet as well as the National Security Council. Though the COAS will be as concerned with the economic crisis as the next man, it is difficult to discern what specific expertise he brings. After the experience of the National Assembly’s Finance Committee, which has complained of not receiving information from the Finance Ministry or the State Bank, it is to be hoped that the new Council is not so ill served. It is difficult to see as anything but a backdoor through which the government’s backers hand down decisions. As the Council is not a constitutional body, and as its direction seems to be that of supplanting bodies responsible to the chosen representatives of the people, it is difficult to see it as serving that much useful purpose. If it does not usher in a new era of development and prosperity, what is it for?