বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড)/১৬
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| অধ্যাপক রহমান সোবহান কর্তৃক দুই প্রদেশের জন্যে দুই অর্থনীতির সুপারিশ |
পাকিস্তান অবজারভার | ২৩ সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৬১ |
TWO WINGS SHOULD DEVELOP EQUITABIUTY
Rahman Sobhan's Case for Two Economics
Lahore, Sept. 22; Professor Rahman Sobhan of the Department of Economics, Dacca University, suggested here today that instead of having one economy for East and West Pakistan and “two regions perpetually quarrelling over the share of resources” it would be split up functionally into two separate economics.
Professor Sobhan was reading a paper on invisibility of national economy of Pakistan at a seminar organized by the Bureau of National Reconstruction.
The seminar is being attended by the scholars from all parts of country. Professor Barkat Ali Qureshi of Agriculture College, Layallpur and Dr. S. M. Akhter also took part in proceedings of the seminar.
Professor Sobhan suggested that the policy of separate economies should be implemented within the framework of regional autonomy giving each wing full control over all its resources both domestic and foreign. All incomes from regional and foreign exchange should be under the control of regional administration. Contribution should be made to the centre, under the scheme suggested by Professor Sobhan for maintenance of Foreign Affairs, General Administration and Defense.
He said that given economic backwardness of East Pakistan it should follow that for some years to come she would give a much smaller contribution to the centre than that of the West wing. However, as investments multiply and income expands here share would automatically increase until such time as when she may be able to pay full 50 per cent of the budget.
Explaining his contention Professor Sobhan said that the first part of the statement which questioned oneness of economy of the country involves economic difference arising out of the completely different natural conditions. Whereas East Pakistan had a population density of 140 per square mile East Pakistan and a figure of 930 per square mile. This called for considerable change in techniques of production in both Agriculture and Industry in the two wings of the country. Prima facie evidence he said indicated a case for accelerated industrialization in East Pakistan as an antidote to excessive pressure of population on land.
Professor Sobhan said that various factors contributed to the bringing up of West Pakistan as a region which had attracted new investment and skill and profits made from trade and investment in East Pakistan were in fact reinvested in West Pakistan due to great attractiveness of the region.
Benefit
He did not agree with the declaration of the Planning Commission that East Pakistan would be ultimately benefited from prosperity in West Wing. He said there was no real evidence to think that East Pakistan will ultimately receive direct benefit from investments being made in West Pakistan.
Monopoly
Giving reasons for West Pakistan's industrialization Professor Sobhan said that policy of giving import licenses to West Pakistani businessmen had created an artificial monopoly and had enabled them to accumulate fortunes within a very short period. These fortunes here invested by them mainly are textile industry and willingness of the Government to sanction mills in West Pakistan played an important part too. He categorically stated that had the government at that stage insisted that 50 percent of all textile mills should be in East Pakistan economic picture today would have been different, similarly, when Government planned its own investments targets it also turned to West Pakistan.
He assented that the second five year plan existence of regional economic imbalance had been acknowledged, but in its investment targets only Rs. 950 crore was allocated to East Pakistan as agreement Rs. 1,350 crore to the West Wing. In addition to this amount of Rs. 500 crore was to be spent in West Pakistan for replacement works and Rs. 517, crore for anti-water logging and salinity campaign.
He said, as the country moved into second plan disparity between two wings will be seriously accentuated.
He also stressed that allocation of foreign aid had also acted as a factor in widening the gap between the two wings as the bulk of the aid allocation had been in West Pakistan and tendency was likely to continue due to need to keep on-going projects.