URAAN Pakistan: Evaluating the Policy Architectures

Abstract

URAAN Pakistan, launched under the 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–29), is a strategic policy initiative aimed at addressing Pakistan’s persistent development challenges through a coherent, future oriented framework. Branded by the government as the ‘5Es Framework’: Exports; E-Pakistan; Environment & Climate Change; Energy & Infrastructure; and Equity, Ethics & Empowerment, the policy seeks to promote economic reforms, digital transformation, environmental resilience, and integrated national growth. Marking a departure from historically fragmented reform efforts, URAAN emphasises inter-sectoral coordination and long-term strategic planning. This paper evaluates the initiative’s policy design through a qualitative, document-based methodology. It draws on policy design literature and Barry Buzan’s multi-sectoral security framework to assess URAAN’s internal coherence, institutional architecture, and strategic viability within Pakistan’s socio-economic landscape. The analysis highlights notable strengths in the initiative’s integrated vision and thematic coherence. However, it also identifies key gaps in institutional clarity, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory oversight mechanisms. These weaknesses could undermine implementation if left unaddressed.