Firewall blocks govt\'s $1tr goal

After being unsatisfied with Stefan Dercon's strategy, Pakistan has finalised a new five-year economic plan to increase the economy's size to $1 trillion. However, some critical goals cannot be achieved until the newly erected social media firewall is dismantled. The plan also aims to increase the low literacy rate to 70% and reduce poverty incidence by 13% over the next five years. The document has been prepared by the Ministry of Planning and will be formally unveiled by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The 5Es National Economic Transformation Plan (2024-29) was developed after the UK-based professor Stefan Dercon's "home-grown" economic plan failed to inspire many. However, some in the prime minister's office are lobbying to have both documents launched simultaneously, as significant time and resources were invested in promoting Dercon's plan.