With respect to economic planning, the
government abandoned policies to plan and control the
direction of economic growth. In 1988, the NESDB was
relieved of its role as supervisor of all major government
projects. The stated intention of the Sixth Plan was to
transform the role of the public sector into that of a
planner, supporter and facilitator of private sector
participation. The government would withdraw from
activities which could be carried out better and more
effectively by the private sector. In many respects, the
government reacted to the boom by retreating toward a
laissez-faire approach (Pasuk and Baker 2002, 161-162).