The Honorable Mr. Mohammad Ali: As I said the allegation that East Pakistan has been impoverished is completely wrong. Figures have been cited to show that the contribution of East Pakistan to the Central revenues has been progressively coming down in terms of percentage. Now that is not quite so. It started going up and why did it come down? Because during the Korean boom when jute prices went up, jute duty was increased and the revenue resources of the Central Government were thereby enhanced. When these prices came down, the jute duty was brought down very considerably. That has in the main accounted for this decrease. Another factor was that the duty on betelnuts which are grown in East Pakistan was removed. Looking at these statistics, one must carefully examine the underlying factors. A great many figures have been quoted in this House. I regret to say that most of them are incorrect not by a small margin but by a wide margin.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: We can prove that it is correct.
Honorable Deputy Speaker: You can prove it later on. But in the mean time you hear what the Prime Minister has to say.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: We are patiently hearing. We know the Prime Minister is speaking.
The Honorable Mr. Mohammad Ali: May I say one thing? I never interrupt any member of the House, however great the provocation might be. There have been the occasions when statements have been attributed to me which were completely false. Nevertheless, I never stood up to intervene. I request that the same courtesy be extended to me.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Sir, we always extend that courtesy.
Mr. Fazlur Rahman: Sir, the word 'false' is un parliamentary.
The Honorable Mr. Mohammad Ali: All right, I say incorrect. Now, Sir what is the policy that one has to follow? First of all economic independence for the country which is a matter of the highest importance. That means, in effect, that whatever we can produce from our own resources, for the basic necessities of life, food, cloth, shelter, etc., we must produce ourselves. And we must do so treating the economy of the country as a single economy wherever with the presence of raw materials or other advantages we can most advantageously and most economically develop it, we develop it there in the interest of the whole country. We must ensure that there is uniform development all over the country. There may be some raw materials available here, some raw materials available there but we must try so to develop them that we are able to make the fullest use of the potential which is available both in East Pakistan and in West Pakistan. This policy will be seen reflected in the plans that the Planning Board is preparing and which will be placed before the country very soon. It is not a matter in which I am holding out some personal assurance to be fulfilled or not to be fulfilled at some future indefinite date. For the last two years the Planning Board, with the assistance of eminent experts from outside as well as from inside the country, has been engaged in preparing a plan for the whole of the country. I have insisted that these plans should ensure uniform development all over
