SOCIAL CHANGES

Economy
The government of Pakistan is deeply involved in directing the country's economy, and most major industries have been nationalized. A government economic plan for 1978 to 1983, however, recommended that private capital be given a greater role in the industrial sector; the plan for 1983 to 1988 emphasized investment in hydroelectric power and rural development. A plan implemented in 1988 to liberalize internal and external trade and privatize more sectors of the economy had produced increases in the GDP growth rate, export revenues, and domestic and foreign investment by the early 1990s. In 1993 the government moved to reduce the nation's deficit and lessen its reliance on foreign aid and loans, by introducing, among other measures, a national sales tax and increases in fuel taxes. The government budget in 1997 included \\$9.6 billion in revenues and $13.6 billion in expenditures. Pakistan receives considerable economic assistance from foreign countries and from international organizations. The United States, which had imposed economic sanctions against Pakistan in 1990 in order to protest Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, lifted the sanctions in January 1996, clearing the way for economic assistance.

Agriculture
Some 27 percent of Pakistan's total land area is cultivated. Agriculture and related activities engage 50 percent of the workforce and provide 26 percent of the GDP. By the late 1970s an intensive land-reform effort had resulted in the expropriation of some 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) from landlords, the distribution of almost half of this to tenants, and the limitation of individual holdings to 40 hectares (100 acres) of irrigated or 81 hectares (200 acres) of nonirrigated land. Formerly an importer of wheat, Pakistan achieved self-sufficiency in the grain by the mid-1970s. Chief cash crops are cotton (textile yarn and fabrics produce more than one-half of export earnings) and rice. Principal crops in 1999 (with output in metric tons) included sugarcane, 53.1 million; wheat, 18 million; rice, 6.9 million; cotton lint, 4.5 million; and corn, 1.3 million. The livestock population in 1999 included 18 million cattle, 21.2 million water buffalo, 32 million sheep, 49 million goats, and 204 million poultry.

Forestry and Fishing
Forests cover 2.3 percent of Pakistan. Most of the 30.9 million cubic meters (1,092 million cubic feet) of roundwood harvested in 1997 was used as fuel. Fishing resources, although underdeveloped, are extensive. In 1997 the catch was 597,201 metric tons, three-quarters of it obtained from the Indian Ocean. Types of fish caught include sardines, sharks, and anchovies; shrimp are also an important part of the industry.

Mining
In the early 1990s the most important nonfuel minerals (with annual production in metric tons) included gypsum (532,000), rock salt (895,000), limestone (8.8 million), and silica sand (154,000). In 1998 coal production was 3.16 million metric tons, crude petroleum production reached 20.1 million barrels, and production of natural gas was 20.2 billion cubic meters (712 billion cubic feet).

Education
Amount spent on education in Pakistan is 2.1% of the total annual budget. At present the number of Ph.D's in the country is not touching the three figure. There are 25 universities, which do not spend any thing on research as such the standard of education is not as good as it should have been, even it is not at par with many developing countries. We must improve our standard of education to cope with the present day global situation. The government is concentrating to improve the quality of higher education by providing training to teachers and diverting resources towards new disciplines. Due to resource constraints for higher education, the government has invited the private sector to join hands with the public sector. The government is committed to raising the allocation of funds for education from the present level. Now the government is taking keen interest in Information Technology and Nuclear Science to expand and alleviate the education in the field.


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