Chairperson, one of the finest decisions the President could have taken was to appoint the National Planning Commission. When India established its planning commission it was going through a very bad period.
The success of the National Planning Commission is dependent on the appointment of the people who are going to serve on it. We should not be too race-conscious. The country must get the best economic planning brains onto the National Planning Commission. If it is going to be political favours that determine appointment, this wonderful structure will fail. In my previous speech I referred to Prof Allahwala, a genius who performed an economic miracle.
Of course, it is very important that the function of this commission and what flows from it when accepted by the Cabinet and government must result in implementation.
If we are all united in working together to ensure that there is delivery and a reduction in unemployment and poverty, then we can say, 10 to 15 years later, that the National Planning Commission was worthwhile.
The MF supports the National Planning Commission.