Fourth Social, Economic and Cultural Development Plan.

The Plan provides for government’s policies in social, economic and cultural development of the country. In order to accelerate the economic development of the country, the Plan requires the government to: create a foreign exchange account to reserve oil sales’ revenues; adopt necessary economic reforms; maximize the use of renewable energy resources; improve the public transportation; facilitate the privatization of public companies; enhance social welfare; take a sustainable development approach in managing the national water resources; improve the agricultural resources in order to achieve self-sufficiency in basic products; create necessary policies for improvement of the mining and industry section; expand international trade.
In order to facilitate the social and cultural development of the country, the government shall improve tourism industry; expand citizen’s access to information; open the market for knowledge-based products; create a comprehensive system for development of research and technology; facilitate the creation of knowledge-based companies; improve the educational facilities, especially in undeveloped regions and for female applicants; increase the in-service training; preservation of cultural heritage.
In order to protect the environment, the Plan requires the government to; promote environmental standards to the global level; decrease the air pollution in mega cities; prevent pollution and degradation of seas and coasts; improve the renewable resources; implement the national land-use act.
In order to improve the quality of life and social welfare, the Plan requires government to: establish the High Council of health and food security; increase the availability of the medical services; improve the national insurance system; improve the pension system.
In order to increase the national security system and improve the effectiveness of government, the government shall: improve the country’s defense system; increase the use of modern technologies in military affairs; increase the privatization; enhance the access to justice for all citizens; improve the administrative system. The legislation consists of 161 articles, divided into 6 Chapters; Development of the Knowledge-based Economy in Interaction with the Global Economy (I); Environmental Protection, Land-use Planning and Regional Balance (II); Development of Health, Human Security and Social Welfare (III); Protection of Iranian-Islamic Culture (IV); Stabilization of National Security (V); Modernization of the Government and Improving the Effectiveness of the State (VI).