A Comprehensive Guide to the History of Pakistan's Constitutions

Classified in Geography

Written at July 19, 2024 on English with a size of 32.78 KB.

Constitution of 1956

Introduction

Pakistan came into being in 1947 after many sacrifices. After the independence of Pakistan, it was governed by the Government of India Act 1935. The constitutional history of Pakistan is quite unfortunate. However, the first Constituent Assembly introduced the Constitution of 1956 after long debates. The Constitution of 1956 was enforced on 23 March 1956. But unfortunately, it was abrogated after two years.

Salient Features of the Constitution of 1956

Following are the salient features of the Constitution of 1956:

Objective Resolution: The Objective Resolution was included as the Preamble of the Constitution of 1956.
Name of Country: The Constitution of 1956 declared Pakistan as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
National Language: Under the Constitution of 1956, Urdu and Bengali were made national languages.
State Religion: Islam was the state religion of Pakistan.
Fundamental Rights: Fundamental rights were given to the people of Pakistan according to the Constitution of 1956.
Rights of Minorities: Rights of minorities were provided in the Constitution of Pakistan 1956. Minorities could freely perform their own religious festivals.
Parliamentary Form of Govt.: The Constitution of 1956 introduced a parliamentary form of government.
Freedom of Judiciary: Freedom of the judiciary was introduced in the Constitution of 1956. It was decided that the Supreme Court would interpret the constitution.

Constitution of 1962

Introduction

Pakistan came into being in 1947 after many sacrifices. After the independence of Pakistan, it was governed by the Government of India Act 1935. The constitutional history of Pakistan is quite unfortunate. For example, its second constitution was enforced in 1962, but it ended in 1969 when martial law was imposed. The 1962 constitution was drafted by a team appointed by Ayub Khan. All work was done secretly and then all of a sudden, the constitution was enforced in the country.

Salient Features of 1962 Constitution

Following are the salient features of the Constitution of 1962:

Name of the Country: The Constitution of 1962 declared Pakistan as the Democratic Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
National Language: Under the Constitution of 1962, Urdu and Bengali were declared as national languages.
Presidential Form of Govt.: The Constitution of 1962 introduced a presidential form of government. In this form of government, the President was made head and possessed the power to appoint ministers to his cabinet.
Freedom of Judiciary: Freedom of the judiciary was introduced, stating that the Supreme Court would interpret the constitution.
Fundamental Rights: The Constitution of 1962 granted certain fundamental rights to the citizens of Pakistan. These are basic human rights that cannot be taken away even by legislation in normal circumstances.
Islamic Ideology Council: The Constitution of 1962 provided for the establishment of the Islamic Ideology Council.
Emergency Provisions: The president had the power to proclaim an emergency when the integrity or the sovereignty of Pakistan was threatened.

Conclusion

As far as the Constitution of 1962 was concerned, initially, the nation always considered it a gift from a dictator, and later on, such political anarchy caused its suspension and replacement by the Constitution of 1973.

Islamic Provisions in the 1973 Constitution

Introduction

On 7th April 1972, the National Assembly of Pakistan appointed a committee to prepare a draft of the permanent constitution of Pakistan. A bill to provide a constitution was introduced by the committee in the Assembly on 2 February 1973. The Assembly passed the bill on 19th April 1973, and at last, the constitution came into force on 14th August 1973.

The present constitution (1973) provides for the protection and preservation of the Islamic concept of life. It also attempts to propagate and implement the basic teachings of Islam.

Islamic Provisions of 1973 Constitution

The following are the Islamic provisions of the 1973 constitution based on the principles of the Holy Quran and Sunnah:

Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Pakistan shall be known as the “Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.
State Religion: Islam shall be the state religion of Pakistan.
Sovereignty Belongs to Allah: Sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah, and the authority bestowed by him on men is a sacred trust which the people of Pakistan will exercise within the limits prescribed by the Quran and Sunnah.
Definition of a Muslim: The constitution also gives the definition of a Muslim. A person who believes in Tauheed or Oneness of Allah and in the prophethood of Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H) as the last prophet of Allah is described as a Muslim.
President and Prime Minister: The constitution laid down that only Muslims shall be elected president and Prime Minister of Pakistan. Non-Muslims could hold these offices.
Islamic Way of Life: Steps shall be taken to enable the Muslims of Pakistan to order their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam.
Promotion of Social Justice: The State shall take necessary steps for the prosecution of social justice and eradication of social evils and shall prevent prostitution, gambling and the taking of injurious drugs, printing, publication, circulation and display of obscene literature and advertisements.
Teachings of Holy Quran: The state shall try to make the teachings of the Holy Quran and Islamic studies compulsory to encourage and facilitate the learning of the Arabic language.
Strengthen Bond with Muslim World: The state shall endeavor to strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries to promote Islamic unity.
Error-Free Publication of Quran: The government shall endeavor to secure the correct and exact printing and publishing of the Holy Quran.
Promotion of Islamic Ideology: The federal and Provincial Ministers, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National and Provincial Assemblies, the Chairman of the Senate and the Governors and Chief Ministers of the Provinces also take an oath to preserve and protect the Islamic Ideology.
Ahmadi’s A Non-Muslim Minority: According to the second amendment of the 1973 constitution, the Qadiani group or the Lahori group who call themselves “Ahmadi’s” were declared a non-Muslim minority.

Conclusion

The 1973 constitution enlisted the main principles of State Policy. Maximum efforts were made to improve the character of this constitution. Like other constitutions, the 1973 constitution of Pakistan also provides for the protection, propagation and enforcement of Islamic Ideology.

Objective Resolution

Introduction

The First Constituent Assembly passed this resolution in March 1949 under the leadership of Liaquat Ali Khan. It contained those objectives on which the future constitution was to be based as stated by the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam, on 14 February 1948, who said:

“The constitution of Pakistan will be democratic and based on the fundamental laws of Islam….Islam and its ideology have taught us the lesson of democracy.”

Salient Features of Objective Resolution

The salient features of the Objective Resolution are as follows:

Sovereignty Belongs to Allah: The resolution clearly laid down that sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone and the authorities to be exercised by the people of Pakistan are a sacred trust.
Federal System: A federal system of Government will be introduced in Pakistan.
Golden Principles of Islam: Principles of democracy, equality, freedom and social justice as laid down by Islam shall be fully observed.
Supreme Authority of the People: The sovereignty of the state will be established through the elected representatives of the people.
Islamic Atmosphere: The Muslims shall be provided with the opportunity to order their lives in accordance with the teachings and requirements of Islam.
Rights of Minorities: The rights and interests of the minorities to freely profess and practice their religion will be protected.
Development of Under Developed Areas: All efforts will be made for the development and progress of the underdeveloped areas.
Independent Judiciary: The judiciary will be independent and free from all pressures.
Defence: The integrity of the territories of the federation, its independence, and all its rights, including the sovereign right of land, sea, and air shall be safeguarded.

Objective Resolution and Liaquat Ali Khan

While introducing the resolution in the Constituent Assembly, Liaquat Ali Khan said:

“The ideals that promised the demand for Pakistan should form the cornerstone of the state. When we use the word ‘Democracy’ in the Islamic sense, it pervades all aspects of life. It relates to the system of government and to our society with equal validity because one of the greatest contributions of Islam has been the equality of all men.”

Importance of the Objective Resolution

This resolution is of fundamental importance in the history of constitution-making in Pakistan because from the first constitution of 1956 until the constitution of 1973 (the present constitution) whatever constitution was framed, it was based on this Objective Resolution. It contains those steps and principles, which were to be taken for the fulfillment of the basic aim of the freedom struggle, that is the establishment of an Islamic society in Pakistan. Hence, it is a significant document in the constitutional history of Pakistan.

Conclusion

All the above-mentioned principles were presented in the Objective Resolution, that is why this resolution is considered an important event in the constitutional history of the country. All classes of people accepted it. It provided a guideline for the future constitutions of Pakistan, which were passed in 1956, 1962, and 1973. It consisted of such principles, which revealed that the character of the constitution should be Islamic.

Tashkent Declaration

Introduction

The Tashkent Declaration of 10 January 1966 was a peace agreement between India and Pakistan after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Peace had been achieved on 23 September by the intervention of the great powers that pushed the two nations to a ceasefire for fear the conflict could escalate and draw in other powers.

Declaration

The conference was viewed as a great success and the declaration that was released was hoped to be a framework for lasting peace. The declaration stated that:

Indian and Pakistani forces would pull back to their pre-conflict positions, pre-August lines, no later than February 25, 1966.
The nations would not interfere in each other’s internal affairs.
Economic and diplomatic relations would be restored.
Orderly transfer of Prisoners of War.
The two leaders would work towards building good relations between the two countries.

Geographical Location of East Pakistan

Geographically, Pakistan was very unique in history. It was, perhaps, the only country in the world that consisted of two parts divided by 1600 km of hostile territory.

Different Social Structure

People of East & West Pakistan belonged to different social systems and they could not develop an understanding with each other.

Language Issue

The people of East Pakistan opposed the government policy on the language issue.

People protested against the government.

Military Action in Pakistan

After the elections of 1970, the law and order situation became very critical in East Pakistan. No one tried to find a political solution to the problem.

India’s Attack

India took advantage of the situation and attacked East Pakistan on December 03, 1971. East Pakistan got independence from West Pakistan and became Bangladesh.

Conclusion

Minor misunderstandings between East & West Pakistan led to major conflicts. A lack of loyal leadership further aggravated the situation and no political solution was experimented with to end the crises. That had brought an end to a united Pakistan and Pakistan was disintegrated.

Location of Pakistan

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is one of the most important countries in Asia, covering an area of 796,096 sq. km. Its population is about 130 million according to the 1998 census.

It consists of five provinces: Punjab, Sindh, K.P.K, Baluchistan and Gilgit Baltistan. Punjab has the highest population while Baluchistan has the largest area.

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan.

North of Pakistan (China): In the north of Pakistan, China is situated. Most of the rivers of Pakistan come from the northern side and there are high mountains in the region. China is an important country in the world. The Karakoram Highway joins Pakistan and China. Pakistan and China have had an excellent relationship from the beginning; they have good trade relations too.
North-West of Pakistan (Afghanistan): Afghanistan is situated in the North-West of Pakistan. It is an Islamic country. The border between the two countries is called the Durand Line and is 2252 km long. Pakistan has good trade relations with Afghanistan. Afghanistan is also a member of E.C.O with Pakistan.
South-West of Pakistan (Iran): Iran lies on the South-West border of Pakistan. Both countries have had an ideal relationship from the beginning. Iran was the first country in the world to accept Pakistan in 1947. It is one of the leading oil-producing countries and is a founder member of E.C.O along with Pakistan.
East of Pakistan (India): India is situated in the East of Pakistan. India is one of the biggest democracies in the world. It is also the second most populated country in the world. Pakistan is trying its level best to form better relations with India. Kashmir is the main issue between the two countries.
Arabian Sea: In the south of Pakistan, the Arabian Sea is situated, which is an important trade route. The trade of Pakistan is mostly carried out through this route.

Conclusion

Allah has blessed Pakistan with an ideal location. We should serve our country honestly and selflessly.

Climate of Pakistan

Climate

The climate of a country is based on a long study of its weather conditions. Pakistan is situated in the north of the Tropic of Cancer. Pakistan is a sub-tropical country. The average temperature in January in the plains of Pakistan is 4 degrees C and the maximum temperature of the same month is 24 degrees C, whereas the minimum temperature in June/July is 30 degrees C and the maximum temperature in the same month is 48 degrees C. The maximum temperature of Sibbi and Jacobabad is about 52 degrees C.

Elements of Climate

The most important elements of climate are temperature, pressure, winds, rainfall and humidity etc.

Situation of Pakistan

Pakistan is situated in the north of the Tropic of Cancer. Pakistan is a sub-tropical country. It is situated in the western part of the monsoon region. Some of the areas in the north of Pakistan are warm and misty, whereas the mountainous areas have a highland type of climate.

Pakistan is divided into the following regions based on its climate:

Sub-Tropical Continental Highland
1. Sub-Tropical Continental Plateau
2. Sub-Tropical Continental Lowland
3. Sub-Tropical Coast Land

Sub-Tropical Continental Highland: It includes Pakistan’s northern mountain ranges (outer and central Himalayas), north-western mountain ranges (Waziristan, Zobe and Loralai) and the mountain ranges of Baluchistan (Quetta, Sara waft, Central, Makran, Jalawan). Here the winter is extremely cold, normally there is snowfall. The summer season is quite cool and in spring and winter seasons, there is mostly fog and rainfall.
Sub-Tropical Continental Plateau: In this climate region, most of the parts of Baluchistan are included. From May to the middle of September, hot and dusty winds continuously blow. Sibbi and Jacobabad are located in this region. There is some rainfall during January and February (normally 5 cm). Extreme hot, dry and dusty winds are important characteristics of this region.
Sub-Tropical Continental Lowland: This climate region includes the upper Indus plain (Punjab Province) and lower Indus plain (Sindh Province). Summer is very hot. The north of Punjab receives less rainfall. The winter rainfall situation is the same. In the Thai, Kachhi, Sibbi and southeastern plains and a large dry area in the desert. The Peshawar plain experiences thunderstorms and dust storms during summer.
Sub-Tropical Coastland: This climate region includes the coastal areas of Sindh and Baluchistan province or the southern part of Pakistan. The temperature is moderate. The difference between maximum and minimum temperatures is less. There is an inflow of sea breeze throughout the summer and the humidity is high. The annual average temperature is 32 degrees C and rainfall is 18 cm. May and June are the hottest months. The plain of Lasbela receives rainfall both in summer and winter seasons. Pakistan is situated in a monsoon type of climate. There are extreme variations in the temperature. A major part of Pakistan lies at a great distance from the sea.

Cultural Heritage of Pakistan

Introduction

In the development of any nation, its cultural heritage and its glorious past play a vital role and serve as a source of inspiration and pride for its people. Our country Pakistan is accordingly proud of its cultural heritage.

Definition of Culture

Culture may be defined as behavior peculiar to human beings, together with the material objects used. Culture consists of language, ideas, beliefs, customs, codes, institutions, tools, techniques, works of art, ceremonies and so on.

Pakistani Culture Is an Islamic Culture

Pakistan is an ideological Islamic State. Its very existence is due to Islam, so Pakistani culture is primarily based on the Islamic way of life. All other ingredients of culture are inspired by Islam. Pakistani culture is highlighted by its grandeur, simplicity, firm convictions and noble deeds and ideas.

Archaeological Heritage

Pakistan has been the cradle of civilizations that date back more than five million years. Over the centuries, through successive waves of migrations from the North West, as well as by internal migrations across the Sub Continent, Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Arabs and Mughals came and settled in the region and have left behind archaeological sites in Pakistan which are now being preserved. A brief review of the different civilizations which flourished with the passage of time is as under:

Moen-jo-Daro (A civilization flourished there some 4000 years ago)
Harappa (situated in the city of Sahiwal)
Gandhara (flourished during the 2nd and 3rd centuries of the Christian era)
Buddhist Remains (In N.W.F.P, It dates 2-5 centuries old)
Taxila (It was excavated in recent times near Rawalpindi)
Thatta (the great mosque built by Shah-Jahan etc.)

Architectural Heritage

A few examples of the Architectural Heritage of Pakistan are as follows:

Lahore Fort: It is also known as Shahi Qila. It was built by Akbar. The main structures inside the fort are the Moti Masjid, Diwan-e-Aam, Maktab Khana, the Shish Mahal and Nawlakha. The Hathi and Alamgir gates are also remarkable constructions.
Badshahi Mosque: It was built by Aurangzeb. Its architecture is similar to the Jama Masjid in Delhi. The mosque has been built with red stones while the domes are in marble.
Jahangir Tomb: This tomb was built by Shah Jahan. It is known as a fine building of Lahore.
Shalimar Garden: It is situated on the Grand Trunk Road and is a magnificent remnant of Mughal grandeur. The garden constitutes three terraces, one above the other. Besides there is an elaborate and beautiful reservoir, water channels and fountains.
Masjid Wazir Khan: It is situated in Kashmir Bazaar inside the walls of the old city. It was built by Nawab Wazir Khan who was a viceroy of Punjab under Shah Jahan.
Golden Mosque: It is situated near the Masjid Wazir Khan. It was built during the rule of Mohammad Shah and it is also a very beautiful piece of architecture.
Mahabat Khan Mosque: This mosque was built by a governor of Peshawar, Mahabat Khan, during Shah Jahan’s reign. It has a fine massive structure with lofty minarets.
The Fort of Bala Hisar: This fort was built on a raised platform 92 feet from ground level. There are two gardens near the fort.

Heritage in Fine Arts

Paintings: The art of painting has developed slowly in the Muslim world of South Asia. In the beginning, decorative paintings and embroidery were made on the walls and ceilings of buildings.
Calligraphy: Muslims took a keen interest in the promotion of calligraphy. Its main reason is their deep love for the Holy Quran. During this period many kinds of calligraphy progressed. The mosques constructed during the early and medieval periods of Islam were decorated with masterpieces of calligraphy.
Music: The Mughals contributed a great deal to the promotion of music and Pakistan has inherited musical traditions that go far back in history. Amir Khusro and Tansen are famous musicians of the historical era.
Architecture and Sculpture: The Muslim art of architecture was unique in every aspect. The architecture and all the miniature arts including carving, sculpture, mosaic works, tile works and paintings were called upon to build new mosques and places.

Conclusion

In the development of Pakistani society, its cultural heritage has played a vital role. The Pakistani nation is justly proud of the historical period which began with nearly the 4th century B.C and continued with the advent of Islam in the Sub Continent in the 8th century A.D.

Urdu Language

Introductory Remarks

Language is the only medium by which one can express their ideas and feelings. It plays a vital role in building the character of an individual as well as a nation. A language brings people closer and it creates a sense of harmony among them.

Pakistan has several regional languages, chief of them being Pushto, Punjabi, Sindhi, Baluchi and Kashmiri; however, the national language of Pakistan is Urdu.

Importance of Urdu in National Life

Means of Brotherhood and Unity: People of Pakistan are one nation; therefore, their thinking, aims and objectives are common. Their progress and prosperity depend upon their unity. An important factor for achieving this unity is Urdu.
Source of Expression: Urdu has become a source of expression, feelings, thoughts and aspirations. People of two different areas can easily understand each other’s ideas and thoughts through Urdu.
Means of Communication and Co-ordination: Urdu serves as a means of communication and is a binding force between all five provinces of Pakistan. People living in different provinces realize that in spite of speaking different languages, they are joined together by one national language, which is the heritage of all.
National and Official Language: Quaid-e-Azam declared on 21^st March 1948, Urdu to be the national and official language of Pakistan.

Conclusion

Being the national language of the country, it is the binding force in different parts of Pakistan. The officers have adopted the Urdu language in their official work and the Government has published a dictionary containing Urdu terms for office work. The Urdu Development Board and “Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Urdu” are trying to give Urdu a place in society and it is hoped that Urdu would find its place in society within a short period.

Sindhi Language

Introduction

Sindhi is one of the important regional languages of Pakistan. It appears that Sindhi was spoken in the Indus Delta from time immemorial. It is said that the language of the people of Moen-jo-Daro contained elements of the present-day Sindhi language.

Dialects of Sindhi

It has different dialects in different parts of Sindh like ‘Surili’, ‘Wacholi’, ‘Laadi’, ‘Thari’, ‘Kohistani’ and ‘Laasi’ etc. However, the basic language remains the same.

Famous Sindhi Poets

Some famous Sindhi poets are:

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
Sachal Sarmast
Makhdoom Noor
Shah Inayat
Bedil
Sabit Ali Shah
Kazi Kazah

Punjabi Language

Introduction

Punjabi is the language of the province of ‘Punjab’. It links back to the Aryan language Prakrit. However, with time, the vocabulary of the Punjabi language became a mixture of Persian, Arabic and Turkish words.

Dialects of Punjabi

It has different dialects in different parts of Punjab. Dialects of Punjabi may be divided into two groups: Eastern and western. Eastern consists of ‘Bhatyani’, ‘Rathi’ and ‘Maalvi’ etc, while western consists of ‘Saraiki’, ‘Potohari’, ‘Dhani’, ‘Sitara-Puri’ and ‘Jaangli’ etc. However, the basic language remains the same.

Famous Punjabi Poets

Punjabi is rich in mystical and romantic poetry. Some of the famous poets of the Punjabi language include:

Baba Farid Baksh
Shaikh Ibrahim Farid Sani
Madhu Lal Hussain
Sultan Bahu
Bhullay Shah
Ali Haider
Waris Shah

Balochi Language

Introduction

Baluchi is the regional language of Baluchistan. It is the least developed of all the regional languages. Baluchi tribes that migrated from Iran spread it.

History of Baluchi Literature

The history of Baluchi literature may be divided into four periods:

Early Medieval Period – 1430 to 1600
Later Medieval Period – 1600 to 1850
Modern Period – 1850 to 1930
Contemporary Period – 1930 to date

Types of Baluchi

There are three types of Baluchi, namely:

Sulemani (East Baluchistan)
Makrani (West Baluchistan)
Rakhshani

Famous Poets of Baluchi

Some of the most literary figures of Baluchi are:

Azad Jamaldini
Ulfat Naseem
Abdul Qadir Shahwani
Malik Mohammad Ramzan
Mir Aqil Maingal
Jam Darag
Shah Mureed
Shahdab

Pushto Language

Introduction

Pushto is the regional language of the K.P.K. and tribal areas. It belongs to the East Iranian group of languages and contains many Persian, Arabic, Greek and Pehlevi words.

Dialects of Pushto

Dialects of Pushto may be divided into two groups:

Yousuf-Zai: It is the accent of people living in northern areas.
Kandhari/Khatak: It is the accent of people living in southern areas.

Famous Pushto Poets

Some of the well-known poets of the Pushto language are:

Amir Karoro
Khushal Khan Khatak
Rehman Baba
Sher Shah Soori
Saif Ullah
Kazim Kazim

Kashmiri Language

Introduction

Kashmiri is the language of the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir and Azad Kashmir. This language has been derived from Sanskrit. Kashmiri is generally spoken in Muslim families of the valley. It contains many Turkish, Arabic and Persian words. It is written in the Persian script.

Dialects of Kashmiri

It has three famous dialects:

Salmanki
Gandhoro
Gaami

Kashmiri Literary Figures

Kashmiri, like all the regional languages of Pakistan, had its early literature in the form of poetry. It began with the composition of folk songs and ballads. Famous authors of the Kashmiri language are:

Shah Nooruddin
Khatoon Lillah Anifa
Baba Nasiruddin
Ghani

History of Economic Planning In Pakistan

The history of national economic planning in Pakistan is divided into the following periods:

Period of economic coordination (1947-53)
Period of planning board (1953-58)
Period of Planning Commission (1958-68)
Period of decline of Planning Commission (1968-77)
Period of revival of Planning Commission (1978-88)
Period of (1988-98)
Period of restructuring of economy (1999-2008)

Fifth Five-Year Plan (1978-83)

Fifth Five-Year Plan

The Zia government accorded more importance to planning. The Fifth Five-Year Plan (1978–83) was an attempt to stabilize the economy and improve the standard of living of the poorest segment of the population. Increased defense expenditures and a flood of refugees to Pakistan after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979, as well as the sharp increase in international oil prices in 1979-80, drew resources away from planned investments. Nevertheless, some of the plan’s goals were attained. Many of the controls on industry were liberalized or abolished, the balance of payments deficit was kept under control, and Pakistan became self-sufficient in all basic foodstuffs with the exception of edible oils. Yet the plan failed to stimulate substantial private industrial investment and to raise significantly the expenditure on rural infrastructure development.

Sixth Five-Year Plan (1983-88)

Sixth Five-Year Plan

The Sixth Five-Year Plan represented a significant shift toward the private sector. It was designed to tackle some of the major problems of the economy: low investment and savings ratios; low agricultural productivity; heavy reliance on imported energy; and low spending on health and education. The economy grew at the targeted average of 6.5% during the plan period and would have exceeded the target if it had not been for severe droughts in 1986 and 1987.

Seventh Five-Year Plan (1988-93)

Seventh Five-Year Plan

The Seventh Five-Year Plan provided for total public-sector spending of Rs350 billion. Of this total, 36.5% was designated for energy, 18% for transportation and communications, 9% for water, 8% for physical infrastructure and housing, 7% for education, 5% for industry and minerals, 4% for health, and 11% for other sectors. The plan gave much greater emphasis than before to private investment in all sectors of the economy. Total planned private investment was Rs292 billion and the private-to-public ratio of investment was expected to rise from 42:58 in FY 1988 to 48:52 in FY 1993. It was also intended that public-sector corporations finance most of their own investment programs through profits and borrowing.

In August 1991, the government established a working group on private investment for the Eighth Five-Year Plan (1993–98).

Eighth Five-Year Plan (1993-98)

Eighth Five-Year Plan

This group, which included leading industrialists, presidents of chambers of commerce, and senior civil servants, submitted its report in late 1992. However, in early 1994, the eighth plan had not yet been announced, mainly because the successive changes of government in 1993 forced ministers to focus on short-term issues. Instead, economic policy for FY 1994 was being guided by an annual plan.

From June 2004, the Planning Commission gave a new name to the Five Year Plan - Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF). Thirty two Working Groups then produced the MTDF 2005-2010.

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