While celebrating Independence Day, it would be appropriate to highlight recommendations of the Economic Planning Committee (EPC) appointed by Quaid-i-Azam in August 1945, as they are still relevant in the prevailing economic situation.

Referring to the production of low orders, the EPC emphasised making the fullest use of production resources to satisfy the basic needs of the people as the first consideration. It was primarily concerned about the ‘practical problems of life’, such as the provision of adequate food, clothing and shelter, and the social services essential for modern civilised life.

According to the EPC, the end objective of a development plan must be the progressive improvement in the standard of living of people. The guiding points listed by the committee were full employment, adequate wages and reasonable prices.

Moreover, the Quaid’s advice to the EPC was “to undertake, in real earnest, a constructive programme for the uplift of our people educationally, socially, economically and politically”. For that, talents were picked by him for the EPC from all parts of India; foremost among them were top-ranking political party leaders. The full text of the EPC report and the strenuous efforts put into preparing it are the topic of the book titled........

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