A Comparison of Economic Growth and Development: Pakistan and Similar Countries IntroductionPakistan has all the major ingredients needed to become a developed nation; it has a geo-strategic position, a generous availability of natural resources and a large working-age population. Despite having the potential to transform itself into a developed country, Pakistan has not been able to realize its potential. Israel, South Korea and Malaysia are countries in more or less the same region as Pakistan. All these countries came into being around the same time as Pakistan. All three of these countries have a higher GDP (gross domestic product) than Pakistan and all three are also ranked higher in the HDI (human development index). South Korea ranked 12th, Israel 16th, and both fall into the very high human development category. Malaysia also falls in the high human development category, while Pakistan is listed in the low human development category. The rationale behind selecting these three countries as the subject of this comparative analysis with Pakistan is that they all achieved independence in the same decade, were at a similar stage of economic development, and initially had similar levels of GDP per capita. Through research and analysis of the social indicators, reforms and policies of these four countries, over the past 60 years, this paper will help identify factors that could help explain the subsequent divergence in the rate of development of these countries .The Objective The purpose of this document is to make a comparison between the economic development and economic growth of these four countries. The comparison will be multifaceted. Will compare the monetary performance... to the middle of the paper... the increase was at a greater level and the population increased to 27 million. Korea also showed an increase in its population, from 22 million in 1960 the population increased to 40 million in 1985 but from here the growth rate slowed and then picked up pace from 1995 onwards, in 2010 Korea had a population of approximately 50 million. From 1960 to 1980, Pakistan's population increased significantly from 45 million to 85 million. Between the years 1986 and 2010 there was an extremely strong increase in the growth rate, bringing the population from 85 million to as many as 180 million. Pakistan is the only country among the other three which has seen such a significant increase in its population. Economic Growth and Development of South Korea Conclusion/Policy Recommendations