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).