What similar developmental strategies have India and Pakistan followed for their respective developmental paths?
India and Pakistan have followed several similar developmental strategies since their independence in 1947. Both nations adopted a planned pattern of development and announced their Five Year Plans around the same time—India announced its first Five Year Plan in 1951–56, while Pakistan announced its first plan in 1956. Both countries pursued similar strategies such as creating a large public sector and raising public expenditure on social development. Till the 1980s, both nations had similar growth rates and per capita incomes. Additionally, both India and Pakistan introduced structural reforms in 1991 and 1988 respectively, which were forced upon them by international agencies.
Explanation
The textbook clearly outlines the similarities between India and Pakistan's developmental paths. Both started at the same time (1947), followed planned development with Five Year Plans, created large public sectors, invested in social development, and had comparable economic indicators till the 1980s. The reforms in both countries were also similar in nature—unlike China's self-initiated reforms, both India and Pakistan were compelled by international agencies.