Evolution of Planning and Development in Sindh

The evolution of Planning and Development in Sindh is delineated into four distinct historical phases:

Phase I (1947–1955): Post-Independence Transition

Centralised coordination under the federal government began with the establishment of a Development Board within the Economic Affairs Division in 1948, followed by a Planning Board in 1953. The primary focus during this period was on refugee resettlement, irrigation, communication, and the development of basic infrastructure in Karachi, which was then the federal capital.

Phase II (1955–1970): The One-Unit Era

A permanent National Planning Board was established in 1957, followed by the creation of the Planning Commission in October 1958. During this period, the provinces of West Pakistan were merged into a single administrative unit, resulting in the centralisation of development planning at both the provincial and federal levels.

Phase III (1970–2010): Provincial Restoration and Departmentalisation

The Sindh Planning and Development Department was formally established on July 1, 1970, following the dissolution of the One-Unit scheme. Subsequent legal consolidation was anchored by the Sindh Government Rules of Business, 1986, which for the first time provided P&D with a formal statutory basis for its planning, appraisal, coordination, and monitoring functions.

Phase IV (2010–Present): Devolution and Modernisation (Post-18th Amendment)

The 18th Constitutional Amendment initiated a transition by delegating significant financial and developmental responsibilities to the provinces. To manage the expanded scope of the Annual Development Program (ADP), the department was restructured as the Planning and Development Board Sindh in 2017. The Board, led by a Chairman, now oversees provincial development governance, fiscal management for P&D and coordinates foreign assistance.