Strategic planning means a set of policies whereby state aims to achieve multiple objectives in a given period of time. When a leadership is bold, clear, honest and visionary, the pursuance of strategic planning becomes a core of its short and long term ambitions. But if the leadership is devoid of the mentioned qualities then that state is fragile, failing and failed.

One element common among the successful models of Bangladesh, China, India, ASEAN, Gulf States and core EU members is the consistent mode of strategic planning. There was a time in first 25 years of Pakistan when strategic planning in the form of five-year plan led to ‘great leap forward’ in terms of economic development, industrialisation and pursuance of work ethics which reflected the vision and perseverance of the leadership at that time. If the value of Pakistani rupee versus major international currencies was stable; per capita income; GDP and economic growth rate as compared to other South Asian countries was better, the reason was strategic planning. After the disintegration of Pakistan in December 1971, compromise in the culture of merit and work ethics also negatively impacted the performance of successive regimes which led to the erosion of purposeful planning.

When there is erosion and decline in almost all state institutions like PIA, Railways, WAPDA and Steel Mills, the fault lines in strategic planning must be taken into account. These fault lines are: time mismanagement; improper decision making; failure to meet targets; corruption; nepotism; and lack of accountability. If Pakistan falls below 144 on the human........

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