Regulatory Framework in Pakistan (The Presidential Address) (Report‪)‬

I. INTRODUCTION Until the mid-1970s, governments all over the world (especially in the developing economies), intervened in markets on the pretext of market failure arising from externalities, decreasing cost industries, and equity considerations for maximising social welfare. In Pakistan, where the private sector has played a dominant role, except probably for the 1970s, (1) private sector activities have all along been regulated through various types of controls and regulations on entry and exit, prices, credit, foreign exchange, imports, investments, etc. These regulations were imposed with a view to ensuring that private sector allocations were in accordance with the national priorities [see Pakistan (1983-84)]. However, the objectives were rarely realised and, in fact, these regulations have been responsible for red-tapism and corruption.