ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: The Planning Commission’s new ‘Approach paper’ urges the government to fulfil its basic responsibilities for the provision of justice, security, education, health, sanitation, water and other essential services.

The paper highlights the role of a “professional and competent civil service” and measures needed to reform it and upgrade its capabilities and competence without which it would be difficult to achieve the higher national objectives, according to the commission.

It says that the institutional transformation will be within the context of a fast changing, economically agile, well informed society.

The paper presents some initial thoughts on critical elements of the macro-economic framework, indicators of growth and quality of life, removal of inequalities and enhanced regional balance, poverty reduction, expanding social opportunities and enhancing national identity and security.

It focuses on the current position of the country according to international indicators, stresses the opportunities and threats from competition and poses several questions whose answers will enable Pakistan to grasp the preferred future.

It emphasises the levels at which the Vision 2030 process will be placed — the nature of state, the economy and society and the global imperatives.

It illustrates issues related to energy, water, infrastructure, knowledge, science and technology and changing demographics from the viewpoint of global demands for competition, productivity and diversification. All these are placed within the boundaries of sustainability of the environment and the human habitat.

It says that the achievement will be judged by basically only one parameter — quality of life of each Pakistani.