
5th RASTA Conference: A Convergence of Policy, Research, and Economic Transformation
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Prof. Ahsan Iqbal stressed that the conference’s research findings, representing the efforts of researchers, present a critical opportunity for Pakistan to refine its developmental strategies. The minister urged participants to draw inspiration from successful nations, noting that every prosperous country has relied on scientific planning as a cornerstone of progress.
Prof. Iqbal placed significant emphasis on the urgent need to strengthen Pakistan’s export sector, identifying it as a linchpin for economic self-reliance and global competitiveness. He maintained that the nation’s research and innovation efforts must prioritize enhancing the value and diversity of exports, particularly through the development of industrial clusters in key sectors such as textiles, information technology, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. Drawing lessons from countries like South Korea and Singapore, which leveraged targeted strategies to dominate international markets, he stressed that these clusters could drive economies of scale, improve product quality, and attract foreign investment. The minister underscored that without a robust export framework, supported by cutting-edge products and data-driven policies, Pakistan risks lagging behind regional peers, urging researchers and policymakers to collaborate on solutions that elevate the country’s trade profile and multiply its foreign exchange earnings.
Addressing the role of higher education, Prof. Iqbal revealed that the government has launched the Science, Technology and Engineering for Development initiative. He presented STED as a flagship effort to align scientific research with national development goals, aiming to produce practical solutions that drive economic growth.
Prof. Iqbal also took a moment to commend the Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Dr. Nadeem Javed, for spearheading an innovative research methodology that promises to redefine how academic inquiry supports national development. He lauded this approach for its emphasis on aligning research with practical policymaking, ensuring that studies conducted under PIDE’s banner directly address Pakistan’s pressing economic and social challenges.
Reflecting on his 35-year career, Prof. Iqbal traced Pakistan’s developmental milestones and setbacks, from tackling 18-hour power outages and rampant terrorism in 2013 to achieving zero load-shedding and restoring peace by 2017-18. He credited CPEC with attracting $25 billion in Chinese investment, transforming Pakistan’s global image and drawing interest from American and European firms eager to collaborate. However, he lamented recurring political instability, urging that Pakistan’s core challenge lies not in economics or politics alone but in its inability to sustain a stable ecosystem for growth.
Prof. Iqbal outlined four essential pillars for a successful national ecosystem: peace and stability, decade-long policy continuity, a charter of economy transcending regime changes, and continuous reforms to adapt to a rapidly evolving world. He warned that without this framework, even the brightest minds and abundant resources would fail to propel Pakistan forward.
In closing, Prof. Iqbal asserted that Pakistan has abundant talent, passion, and potential that remains untapped due to systemic failures, calling for a unified effort to build stability, continuity, and reform. The minister’s address set an ambitious tone for the conference, urging participants to harness research as a tool for informed policymaking and transformative growth, ensuring Pakistan emerges as a success story by its 100th year of independence.
Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) inaugurated the 5th RASTA Conference, reaffirming its commitment to evidence-based policymaking, economic innovation, and research-driven reforms. As Pakistan’s largest economic and public policy research grant initiative, RASTA has grown into a dynamic platform for intellectual discourse, collaboration, and actionable policy solutions. The conference brought together renowned academics, policymakers, and development experts, fostering an open exchange of ideas on Pakistan’s economic future.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Javaid, Vice Chancellor of PIDE, emphasized that PIDE is not just a think tank—it is a bridge between research and action. He outlined a vision for strengthening Pakistan’s policymaking landscape through new initiatives designed to ensure that research translates into real impact. He announced the establishment of a Policy Lab that will provide real-time, data-driven solutions for governance and economic challenges. To further enhance the quality of research and policy recommendations, PIDE is implementing a rigorous research funding mechanism that prioritizes high-impact, evidence-based studies. Additionally, a recruitment drive will bring in 90 top researchers and policymakers purely on merit. As part of a broader initiative to integrate academic research with policymaking, PhD students will be placed in economic ministries, where they will work on real-world policy challenges while developing their research theses.
Dr. Faheem Jehangir, Director Policy at PIDE and Project Director RASTA, provided insights into RASTA’s remarkable expansion over the past four years. The initiative has cultivated an extensive knowledge network, collaborating with 70 local universities, 12 international institutions, and over 4,300 researchers, practitioners, and academicians. The Competitive Grant Program (CGP) has received 1,664 applications across seven rounds, but to maintain quality and impact, only 90 research projects (7.8% selection rate) were funded. Of these, 65 have been successfully completed, while the remaining 25 are being presented at this conference. In parallel, the Demand-Driven Research (DDR) Program, which addresses government policy needs, has funded 33 government-driven projects, with 22 completed and publicly accessible.
The conference also featured several technical sessions on technology-driven economic growth, fiscal management, and governance efficiency. The first session, “Tech for Competition and Growth,” included research presentations on Big Data Analytics in business competitiveness, the development of a Tech Index for Pakistan, the adoption of UAVs in agriculture, the impact of digital currencies, and pharmaceutical export competitiveness. This session was chaired by Babar Majid Bhatti, CEO of the National Information Technology Board (NITB), with Zahid Asghar, Professor at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, as the discussant. The second session, “Fiscal Management,” featured experts including Hafeez A. Pasha discussing Pakistan’s tax system, broadening the tax base, sub-national revenue collection, and the impact of the 18th Constitutional Amendment on fiscal policy. It was chaired by Ikram Ul Haq, Professor of Taxes and Managing Partner at Huzaima & Ikram, with Imtiaz Ahmad, Economic Adviser at the Ministry of Finance, serving as the discussant.
The 5th RASTA Conference underscored the urgency of transformative policy reforms, structured economic planning, and an unwavering commitment to research-driven decision-making. As PIDE and RASTA continue to bridge the gap between knowledge and action, this conference reaffirmed a critical truth: Pakistan must not just adapt to change—it must drive it.