Let's Talk Development

Post the COVID-19 economic landscape, global trends on Tax Policy Reforms emphasize heavily on increasing reliance on IT solutions in tax authorities worldwide. Digitalization and digital transformation facilitate the remote functioning of tax administration, enhancing efficiency, speeding up the processes, minimizing errors thereby reducing administrative and compliance costs. Mansoor Sultan and Dr. Sher Afghan Asad discuss the digital transformation process and how effectively it can help the provincial tax administration in Pakistan and its potential impact on the tax system.

In 1972, at the time of its formation Bangladesh had to start from virtually ground zero, with little to no resources and labour power at its disposal. However, it has now overtaken Pakistan’s growth levels on several indicators. Dr. Sadiq Ahmed and Dr. Ijaz Nabi talk about the development journey of Bangladesh and how it has come to become a success story by highlighting the big turning points and what lessons can Pakistan takeaway from it.

Encouraging farmers to use fertilizers in a sustainable manner is integral for preserving food security. Mr. Atif Mohammed Ali and Ms. Amina Bajwa talk about how the fertilizer industry can transition towards a more sustainable model without the support of government subsidies. They discuss how to boost the productivity of small farmers in Pakistan and how to enhance research and development within Engro fertilizers.

The leading models for development and how it progresses in a country differ greatly because of a country’s resources and the societal differences. Dr. Stefan Dercon and Dr. Ali Hasanain talk about the big picture in terms of the world economy, global development and growth. They dive deep into the discussion of global development in the context of developing countries, elite bargains and choosing the right state objectives.

The growing tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan in light of the latest events of the expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has become of imminent concern to the country. Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais and Asad Rahim Khan talk about the importance of protecting the rights of Afghan refugees in the country who have been residing here for several years and explore the causes behind the changes in policies regarding these refugees.

Despite contributing to only about 0.9% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains high amongst the list of countries that are most vulnerable to climate change. Dr. Faraz Hayat, Tim Dobermann and Dr. Sugandha Srivastav discuss climate change in Pakistan in light of the ongoing COP28 negotiations where they examine the pace of progress towards reducing emissions globally. Focusing on the growing financing needs for undertaking mitigative and adaptative activities aimed at combatting climate change in Pakistan, they explore the various climate financing options available to the country which can help navigate the climate crisis.

Pakistan’s major priority regarding its foreign policy over the years has been to increase Pakistan’s engagement in the region in a way that makes the region more cohesive and more economically integrated. With Pakistan’s geographical location posing a challenge, navigating through its foreign policy has always been a major concern for successive governments. In this podcast, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar and Dr. Madiha Afzal talk about Pakistan’s current foreign policy approach, it’s major priorities and challenges and how it has evolved over the years.

Currently, one of the biggest challenges that Pakistan is facing is the ever-increasing population growth and lack of family planning. 40% of Pakistan’s area is underserved when it comes to family planning programmes and according to the latest population census, Pakistan’s current population amounts to 240 million people, which makes it the fifth most populous country in the world. Nazish Afraz and Amna Akhsheed discuss and unpack the importance of women’s agency to choose family size and make decisions based on their financial and physical resources. They identify the barriers and the gaps in family planning services, such as accessibility and information and their importance in combating the rising population in Pakistan

In Pakistan, election decisions can be dependent on either the party’s label or the party’s ideology. Currently, Pakistan’s political parties are facing a number of constraints in trying to influence the outcomes of voters’ choice during election time. Dr. Niloufer Siddiqui and Dr. Asad Liaqat discuss these constraints and how the upcoming election outcomes can be influenced by the way parties are structured and the way they interact with voters.

When it comes to digital progress, till date Pakistan has dealt with a few persistent challenges such as macroeconomic headwinds, regulatory issues, digital inclusion, and literacy rates. According to the inclusive internet index 2022, Pakistan ranked last out of the 22 countries in Asia. Infrastructure availability, affordability and digital literacy contribute significantly to Pakistan’s poor socio-economic performance, with digital inclusion for women emerging as an even greater challenge. Monis Rehman and Anam Malkani discuss the challenges and opportunities of the digital space in Pakistan highlighting policy options which may help reduce the gender differential in the digital practice.

Pakistan is fraught with a number of economic, social, political, and environmental challenges. To effectively address these issues, it is imperative to not view them in isolation but to combat them in tandem paying attention to the systemic connections between them. Deferring climate action in favour of poverty reduction or political stabilization presents a very real threat; the magnitude of the climate change problem may become so large that it overwhelms all other challenges. Dr. Adil Najam and Rafay Alam discuss how governments can find a balance between imperatives of economic growth and development while prioritizing meaningful climate action.

Widespread poverty has plagued Pakistan for decades. In 2022, 21.9% of the population was reported to be living below the National Poverty Line. The recent economic crisis has worsened this state of affairs and has doubled concerns about the disproportionate impact of rising poverty on the lives of Pakistan's population, particularly those segments that are already poor and disadvantaged. Dr. Ijaz Nabi and Dr. Imran Rasul delved deep into these issues in the latest episode and discussed the merits of cash vs in-kind social protection in the Pakistani context.

Many analysts and observers of India's economy are proclaiming that India's moment has arrived and it is now poised to rival China in terms of economic prosperity. However, Dr. Ashoka Mody, a Professor of Economics at Princeton University with rich experience in the global economy, contradicts this assertion by saying that India is still mired in deep economic malaise. Let's listen to his insights as they also hold relevance for Pakistan.

Why did Pakistan fall so far behind in terms of growth from its neighbours? To what extent was this due to low worker productivity? How do we measure worker productivity? How do exports and women working in the labour force help increase productivity? In this episode, Dr. Ijaz Nabi and Dr. Gonzalo Varela answer these questions.

The recent global developments including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China’s growing regional footprint in South Asia, and the intensifying global strategic competition between China and the United States reinforce new and significant geopolitical trends for Pakistan. Uzair Younus and Arifa Noor discuss how in this situation, Pakistan should leverage its relationships with its allies, including the United States and China, to ameliorate its various internal and external conflicts. They also discuss how the economic and political crises taking root in Pakistan affect the country’s access to world capital for investment and growth starting with the resumption of the IMF program.Uzair Younus is the director of the Pakistan Initiative at the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. Arifa Noor is a journalist.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CDPR or any of its affiliates.

Recently, we have seen people from across the class spectrum migrate to other countries at a level never seen before. Dr. Ali Khan and Mohsin Hamid discuss some of the leading causes responsible for driving the crisis of international migration in Pakistan, including an intensifying economic crisis and political turmoil, surging terrorism, and constant threats of natural disasters.Dr. Ali Khan is the Dean at Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School for Humanities and Social Sciences, LUMS. Mohsin Hamid is an acclaimed Pakistani author—his major works include The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Moth Smoke, Exit West, and The Last White Man.

Pakistan is one of the most urbanized countries of South Asia. However, urbanization has led to such rapid expansion of Pakistan’s cities that they struggle to deliver public services, create productive jobs, and implement effective policies regarding planning. Dr. Omar Masud and Fizzah Sajjad draw attention to these pressing matters and offer a compelling exploration of the urban landscape in Pakistan.

According to the latest 2023 population census, the enumerated population has reached 230.4 million—indicating an increase of 17.2 million people from the 2017 census. While the fertility rate has dropped globally; it remains stubbornly high in Pakistan where women and girls lack access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, including contraception. Rapid population growth seems like a daunting prospect for a country struggling with public finances and political turmoil. In this episode, Dr. Ijaz Nabi and Dr. Zeba Sathar discuss some key issues concerning population growth in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s water supply has become a crucial resource challenge in recent years, made worse by the country’s enduring infrastructure and governance problems. The prospect of a major water crisis in Pakistan offers a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of the country to global climate change. The destructive floods that submerged a third of the country last year demonstrate this. In this episode, Dr. Fazilda Nabeel and Dr. Erum Sattar draw attention to important issues in the climate change-water security space in Pakistan.

As with many megacities in the developing world, Karachi deals with critical issues including governance and service delivery. Dr. Umair Javed and Jibran Nasir discuss the risks that residents face due to local governance challenges in Karachi.