This Framework comes at a time when the global recession, war on terror and other factors arising out of rampant corruption and governance issues have severely constrained the economic growth in Pakistan. An unintended consequence of our policies has been the stifling of internal markets, cities and communities, which play a critical role in fostering productivity, innovation and entrepreneurship and ultimately promote growth, prosperity and development. Productivity is declining and there is no comprehensive and integrated mechanism available for increasing the competitiveness and good governance. Under these environments Pakistan has been facing new challenges in this 21^st century. All stakeholders have to deal with the issues of cultural change and with the more informed masses address the uncertainty present in social, economic and political issues. Media is now more vibrant and liberal for facilitating this process.

Governance Institutes Network International (GINI) in collaboration with the Planning Commission and supported by DFID has initiated a consultation process involving all stakeholders for creating economic literacy and local ownership to facilitate implementation of the Framework for Economic Growth of Pakistan formulated by the Planning Commission and approved by the National Economic Council. The consultation process spreading over four provincial workshops, four outreach workshops into communities (both urban and rural) and a national conference has been initiated involving selected universities as the main medium for the stakeholders’ dialogues through creative engagement and methods that go beyond traditional event management and play a central role in leading the development process of ‘Visions’ for their cities. Out of nine workshops planned under the stakeholders’ consultation process, following seven workshops have been successfully conducted with participants including academia,  government officials, representatives from chamber of commerce & industry, industries, business community, media, bar association, NGOs, civil society, while schedule for Lahore and Islamabad Workshops is being finalized:

1. Karachi Workshop by University of Karachi on 20 September, 2011
    

2. Jamshoro-Hyderabad Community Outreach Workshop by University of Sindh on 22 September, 2011
    

3. Lasbela-Hub Community Outreach Workshop by Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS) Uthal on 24 September, 2011
    

4. Gujrat-Sialkot-Gujranwala Community Outreach Workshop by University of Gujrat on 27 September, 2011
    

5. Abbottabad-Haripur-Mansehra Community Outreach Workshop by COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) Abbottabad on 4 October, 2011
    

6. Peshawar Workshop by University of Peshawar on 6 October, 2011
    

7. Quetta Workshop by University of Balochistan on 15 October, 2011

The stakeholders’ workshops aimed at achieving following objectives:

• To achieve economic literacy by highlighting the key issues that hampers the economic growth in Pakistan

• To sensitize the stakeholders about New Growth Framework

• To initiate a dialogue and build stakeholders consensus/ownership on the implementation of New Growth Framework in the context of following themes:

              (i)   Role of Government /result based management in public sector/Civil service reform
              (ii)  Energy (Electricity, Oil and Gas) Crisis in Pakistan
              (iii) Market Reforms & Entrepreneurship
              (iv) Urban Management & Connectivity
              (v) Youth & Community Engagement

For more details, please see executive summaries of the stakeholders’ workshops held so far.