Decentralized regional planning : a comparative study of the planning systems in Thailand and Pakistan

Author: Tariq Mahmood

AIT Library Call Number: AIT RSPR no. HS-95-08

Year: 1995

Academic Program: Human Settlement (HS)

Type: Research Studies Project Report (M. Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 1995

Examination Committee: Hans Detlef Kammeier (Chairperson); Jayant Kumar Routray, Gopal B. Thapa (Examination Committee Members)

Abstract: The concept of decentralization has been well recognized since the last two decades in most of the developing countries. The increasing discrepancies among the rich and poor regions tend to be aggravated by centralized government system. The discrepancies among the different regions and level of governments have been observed while studying local development planning system in Pakistan and Thailand. The study the aims to analyze the present sub-national planing system in Pakistan and Thailand and compare the present systems of both the countries in relation to decentralize planning approaches. The present sub-national planning systems of Pakistan and Thailand have been discussed in depth. Information on the present administrative and organization set up, planning process, financial aspect, people’s participation and information system for local development planning of both countries are also discussed in length. The comparison of the planning system revealed that the policy of decentralization of administrative setup and planning process has already been exercised at limited scale in both the countries. The central government has a stronghold over the financial resources while only limited financial autonomy at local level has been transform. The study also shows that Thai local development planning system is better designed than the Pakistani local development planning system. The similarities and gaps of decentralization have been assessed the in local level planning system of both countries. Considering the analysis, the study also concluded that Pakistan and Thailand both have semi-decentralized planning systems with a mixture of top down and bottom up planning approaches. A set of recommendations and proposals to improve the district development planning system are made based on the analysis and outcome of the study. Notes: 1. This Research Study was completed as part of the requirements for the SPRING (Asia) Program. SPRING, an acronym for Spatial Planning for Regions in Growing Econ

Scholarship Donor(s): Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD); Germany

Note: A Research Study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology

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Search keywords index: Tariq Mahmood Decentralized regional planning : a comparative study of the planning systems in Thailand and Pakistan Human Settlement (HS) Regional planning — Thailand;”Regional planning — Pakistan”