The first five-year Plan was launched in:

The first five-year Plan was launched in:

Options:
(a) 1955
(b) 1956
(c) 1957
(d) 1958

✅ Correct Option: (a) 1955

Explanation (200+ words):

The first Five-Year Plan of Pakistan was officially launched in 1955 to systematically develop the country’s economy and education system. It marked a shift from ad-hoc or short-term planning to structured, long-term national development planning. The plan covered 1955–1960 and emphasized industrial growth, infrastructure development, agriculture, and education.

In education, the plan aimed to expand primary and secondary schools, improve teacher training, and increase literacy, particularly in rural areas. Adult literacy programs were also integrated. The first Five-Year Plan built on the lessons learned from the previous six-year and three-year plans, ensuring better resource allocation, administrative arrangements, and monitoring mechanisms.

Launching the plan in 1955 also aligned Pakistan’s planning framework with international development norms, similar to India’s planning efforts at the time. The plan’s educational goals laid the foundation for subsequent literacy campaigns, Five-Year Plans, and policies such as the National Literacy Plan and adult education programs in later decades.

10 PPSC Facts:

  1. Launched in 1955.
  2. Duration: 1955–1960.
  3. First formal Five-Year Plan.
  4. Emphasized education and literacy expansion.
  5. Focused on primary and secondary schools.
  6. Included teacher training programs.
  7. Integrated adult literacy initiatives.
  8. Built on previous six-year and three-year plans.
  9. Aligned with international planning norms.
  10. Served as foundation for future educational and economic policies.