39th AGM & International Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists
Mission $100 Billion
The National Race for Sustainable Export-led Prosperity
Applied, reform-oriented research for an export-led Pakistan. Organised by PSDE and PIDE with the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives.
DatesOctober 14 & 15, 2026
VenuePakistan Institute of Development Economics, QAU Campus, Islamabad
Conference opens in
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- Organised byPakistan Society of Development Economists
- Hosted byPakistan Institute of Development Economics
- WithMinistry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives
About the conference
Exports are no longer a policy option. They are a national mission.
3.25%Average annual growth, past 12 years
$100bnSustainable export target
8Sector themes for research
Pakistan stands at a critical juncture. After decades of stop-start growth, the country has a historic opportunity to move from a fragile, inward-looking economy to a dynamic, export-led engine of sustainable development. Growth has lagged regional peers, while protectionism, import substitution and a narrow export basket have left the economy exposed to external shocks, fiscal crises and structural stagnation.
With trade-to-GDP behind other emerging economies and exports concentrated in low-value textiles and a handful of markets, Pakistan must reimagine its global economic footprint. Building on the URAAN Pakistan vision, this conference brings together applied, reform-oriented research and policy dialogue on achieving $100 billion in sustainable exports.
Programme
Two days, one national mission
Inaugural and closing sessions, panel discussions, three memorial lectures and eight parallel technical sessions at PIDE, Islamabad.
- 4Panel discussions
- 3Memorial lectures
- 8Technical sessions
- 24Research papers
- 6Showcases
Join online: Zoom details by room
- PIDE Sky HallMeeting ID 825 1833 1615Passcode 988095
- JCRMeeting ID 851 0589 6241Passcode 827963
- Sartaj Aziz RoomMeeting ID 883 9309 2808Passcode 241556
- A. R. Kemal RoomMeeting ID 863 9198 6614Passcode 952872
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 · PIDE, Islamabad
09:00 AMto 09:30 AM
Arrival of guests / registration
09:30 AMto 10:45 AM
OpeningPIDE Sky Hall
Inaugural Session
Welcome, addresses & guests
09:30 – 09:40 AMWelcome remarks
- Dr Muhammad Tahir NoorFederal Secretary, Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives
09:40 – 09:50 AMSecretary’s report
- Dr Faheem JehangirDean (Policy), PIDE/Secretary, PSDE
09:50 – 10:00 AMGuest of honour
- Mr Yuan JianminSenior Advisor, Xinjiang Government, China
10:00 – 10:20 AMPresidential address
- Dr Nadeem Javaid (SI)Vice Chancellor, PIDE/President, PSDE
10:20 – 10:45 AMInaugural address
- Prof Ahsan IqbalFederal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives/DCPC/Chancellor, PIDE
10:45 AMto 11:00 AM
Tea break
11:00 AMto 12:30 PM
Panel discussion 1PIDE Sky Hall
Leveraging CAREC & CPEC as Engines of Trade & Investment
Chair, panellists & moderator
Chair
- Dr Tofig BabayevHead of International Cooperation Department, Institute of Mathematics, Ministry of Science and Education, Republic of Azerbaijan
Panellists
- Mr Yang GuangyuanMinister Counsellor, Embassy of People’s Republic of China, Islamabad
- Prof Dr Li KouqingDeputy Director 1, CAREC Institute
- Dr Hassan Daud ButtSenior Associate Professor, Bahria University, Islamabad/Senior Advisor, CEEC (Pak)
- Ms Farzana NoshabLead Economist, Asian Development Bank-Pakistan
- Mr Masood KhalidFormer Ambassador to China
Moderator
- Dr Ghulam SamadChief (Research Division), CAREC Institute
Panel discussion 2JCR
Better Workplaces, Stronger Exports: Working Conditions as a Driver of Export-led Prosperity
Chair, panellists & moderator
Chair
- Mr Muhammad UbaidHead of WE Project, GIZ Pakistan
Panellists
- Mr Irfan MuftiExecutive Director, South Asia Partnership, Pakistan
- Mr Zain Ul Abideen AhsanDeputy CEO, Vision Technologies
- Ms Maliha AmeenMarketing and Sales Director, Immi Garments
- Ms Zoha ShahzadHead of Corporate HR, Mahmood Group of Industries
Moderator
- Ms Saman SardarEconomic Cooperation and Private Sector Development Advisor, WE Project
Showcase 1 · RASTASartaj Aziz Room
Tobacco Excise Compliance
Showcase 2 · RASTAA. R. Kemal Room
Time Use Survey
12:30 PMto 01:45 PM
Quaid-i-Azam Memorial LecturePIDE Sky Hall
Realising the Quaid’s Vision: From Moth-eaten Dependent State to a Strong and Resilient Nation
Chair, keynote & discussant
Chair
- Mr Tariq BajwaSAPM/Former Governor, SBP
Keynote speaker
- Dr Ehtisham AhmadSpecial Advisor (Finance) /IMF Advisor/ Senior Fellow, LSE /University of Bonn
Discussant
- Dr Ikram ul HaqAuthor and Senior Expert on Tax
01:45 PMto 02:30 PM
Lunch break
02:30 PMto 04:00 PM
Panel discussion 3PIDE Sky Hall
Customs & Tariff Reforms for Exports Take-off
Chair, moderator & panellists
Chair
- Dr Imtiaz AhmedChief Economist, M/o PD&SI
Moderator
- Mr Mukarram Jah AnsariDirector General-I, Strategic Tariff and Revenue Analysis Wing, FBR
Panellists
- Mr Aamir AllawalaCEO, Tecno Pak Telecom (Pvt) Ltd
- Dr Manzoor AhmadInternational Trade & Customs Facilitation Expert
- Dr Ikram ul HaqAuthor and Senior Expert on Tax
- Ms Robina AtherFormer Chairperson, NTC
- Dr Aadil NakhodaAssistant Professor, IBA
Showcase 3 · RASTASartaj Aziz Room
Citypedia
Showcase 4 · RASTAA. R. Kemal Room
SYIG Tracer Study
04:00 PMto 05:30 PM
Parallel session 1APIDE Sky Hall
Cultivating Competitiveness: AI, AgriTech & the Agricultural Export Transformation
Chair, papers & discussant
Chair
- Dr Najeebullah MarwatMember (Science & Technology), M/o PD&SI
Presenters
- Dr Manan AslamJiangsu University, Zhenjiang, ChinaDigital Technologies, AI-Enabled Tools, and Agricultural Export Performance: Evidence from Citrus and Mango Value Chains in Pakistan
- Dr Ghulam Rasool MadniUniversity of Education, LahoreAI, AgriTech, and the Export Turnaround: A Data-Driven Roadmap to Achieve Pakistan’s $100 Billion Vision
- Dr Qamar AliVirtual University, IslamabadA Hybrid Computational Framework for Climate-Smart, Digitally-Enabled, and Sustainable Agri-Export Resilience: Evidence from Pakistan, India, China, and Japan (2000–2025)
Discussant
- Dr M. Jehangir KhanAssociate Professor/Director ORIC, PIDE
Parallel session 1BJCR
The Institutional Compass: Politics, Governance & Pakistan’s Export Trajectory
Chair, papers & discussant
Chair
- Dr Mumtaz Anwar ChaudharyProfessor of Economics, Punjab University
Presenters
- Dr Fatima EjazFJWU, RawalpindiRethinking Pakistan’s Exports Bottleneck: How Economic, Political and Institutional Factors Shape Pakistan Exports
- Dr Chaman HussainPunjab University, LahoreCorridors and Codes: Provincial Language Politics, Decentralised Governance, and Trade-driven Growth in Pakistan
- Dr Muhammad Sohail AkhtarIBA, KarachiPolitical Uncertainty and Market Behaviour: Evidence from the Karachi Stock Exchange
Discussant
- Dr Shahzada M. Naeem NawazProfessor of Economics/Director MPL, PIDE
Parallel session 1CSartaj Aziz Room
Benchmarking Growth: Sectoral Performance & Comparative Export Advantage
Chair, papers & discussant
Chair
- Dr Manzoor AhmadInternational Trade & Customs Facilitation Expert
Presenters
- Dr Masood Ahmed SiddiquiIBA, KarachiRevisiting Export-led Growth in Pakistan: Evidence from Medium Term Sectoral Projections and Real Exchange Rate Elasticities
- Dr Uzma ZiaPIDE, IslamabadPakistan’s Sectoral Comparative Advantages and Export Challenges
- Dr Jamshaid ur RehmanGC University, LahoreDivergent Pathways: A Comparative Analysis of Industrial Development and SME Dynamism in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam
Discussant
- Dr Imtiaz AhmadHead of Policy for Trade, Investment & Industrial Cooperation, CoE-CPEC, PIDE
Parallel session 1DA. R. Kemal Room
Small Firms, Big Gains: SMEs, Clusters & Inclusive Innovation
Chair, papers & discussant
Chair
- Dr Syed Hasanat ShahExecutive Director, CoE-CPEC, PIDE
Presenters
- Dr Yusra ShehzadiIoBM, KarachiEmpowering Women-led SMEs for Sustainable Export Growth: A Pathway to Inclusive Industrial Development in Pakistan
- Dr Muhammad AliNESPAK, IslamabadUnlocking Value in Pakistan’s Gemstone Economy: A Cluster Upgrading Strategy for Namak Mandi, Peshawar
- Dr Muhammad SohailBacha Khan University, CharsaddaQuality of Institutions and Firm-level Innovation in Pakistan: A Disaggregated Analysis
Discussant
- Dr Nasim FarazDirector General, Macro-Fiscal Policy Unit, Finance Division
Thursday, October 15, 2026 · PIDE, Islamabad
09:00 AMto 10:30 AM
Parallel session 2APIDE Sky Hall
Code, Cloud & Customs: ICT, AI & Digital Trade Reform
Chair, papers & discussant
Chair
- Dr Sohail MunirChairperson, Pakistan Digital Authority
Presenters
- Dr Farhat MahmoodPIDE, IslamabadICT Development and Services Exports in South Asia
- Mr Haider AliMNS Agriculture University, MultanFederated Medical AI and Digital Health Service Delivery: A Techno-Economic Feasibility Assessment Using Skin-Lesion Classification
- Ms Ana KhattakState Bank of Pakistan, KarachiRedefining Pakistan’s Trade Trajectory through the Pakistan Single Window (PSW): A Data-Driven Reform
Discussant
- Dr Zahid AsgharMember (Economic Analysis), Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
Parallel session 2BJCR
The Blue Frontier: Maritime Trade, Coasts & Ocean Governance
Chair, papers & discussant
Chair
- Dr Waqas AnwarMember (Infrastructure & Regional Connectivity), Planning Commission
Presenters
- Dr Saba AnwarPIDE, IslamabadLeveraging Green Maritime Tourism for Climate-Resilient Coastal Development in Pakistan: Opportunities and Policy Pathways
- Dr Hafeez Ahmed JamaliBalochistan CSA, QuettaSustainable Fisheries and Coastal Development through “Blue Economy” Framework in Balochistan: Progress, Challenges, and the Way Forward
- Dr Muhammad Aamir MahmoodVirtual University, IslamabadNavigating the Blue-Green Nexus: Maritime Governance, Digitalisation, and Sustainable Port Development in Asian Economies (2000-2025)
Discussant
- Dr Amjad MasoodChief of Research/Director CTLI, PIDE
Parallel session 2CSartaj Aziz Room
Beyond Borders: Skills, Labour Mobility & Human Capital Exports
Chair, papers & discussant
Chair
- Dr Ather MaqsoodProfessor of Economics, NUST
Presenters
- Dr Hummaira JabeenIndus University, KarachiBridging the Skills-to-Market Gap: The Role of Skills in Enhancing Pakistan’s Freelancing and IT Export Competitiveness
- Dr Moazzam AliAIOU, IslamabadThe Dynamics of Manpower Export in Pakistan: Challenges, Reforms, and Global Prospects
- Dr Umer KhalidPRIDE Consulting, IslamabadLabour Exports from Pakistan: Case Study of Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
Discussant
- Dr Junaid AhmedChief of Research, PIDE
Parallel session 2DA. R. Kemal Room
From Coastlines to Coke Studio: Tourism & the Creative Economy as Export Frontiers
Chair, papers & discussant
Chair
- Ms Amena Aly KamaalMember (Development Communications), M/o PD&SI
Presenters
- Dr Bushra YasminFJWU, RawalpindiTourism-led Export Diversification: Empirical Evidence from South Asian Economies
- Dr Syeda Azra BatoolBZU, MultanBeyond Tourism-Led Growth: The Role of Institutions in Unlocking Pakistan’s Tourism Potential
- Dr Muhammad Rafi KhanMinhaj University, LahoreFrom K-pop to Coke Studio: Policy Pathways for Music Export Development in Pakistan
Discussant
- Dr Fahd ZulfiqarAssistant Professor/Director CSBA, PIDE
10:30 AMto 11:00 AM
Tea break
11:00 AMto 12:30 PM
Panel discussion 4PIDE Sky Hall
How to Export More: Learning from Newly Industrialised Economies
Chair, moderator & panellists
Chair
- Prof Dr Zafar Nawaz JaspalVice Chancellor, Quaid-i-Azam University
Moderator
- Mr Tahir Habib CheemaChief (Admin & Finance), FBR
Panellists
- Syed Asad Ali ShahGovernance & Economic Reform Specialist
- Dr Babur WasimSenior Economist, Asian Development Bank-Pakistan
- Mr Shafiq ShehzadDirector General, Trade Policy, Ministry of Commerce
- Dr Madiha RiazProfessor of Economics/Director CSF, PIDE
Showcase 5 · CoE-CPECSartaj Aziz Room
Showcase 6 · CoE-CPECA. R. Kemal Room
12:30 PMto 01:45 PM
Allama Iqbal Memorial LecturePIDE Sky Hall
Beyond the Mandi: Connecting Pakistan’s Farms to Finance, Markets and Exports
Chair, keynote & discussant
Chair
- Mr Fawad Hasan FawadFormer Federal Minister/Former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Pakistan
Keynote speaker
- Dr Kabir Ahmed SidhuChairman, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan
Discussant
- Dr Shujaat FarooqProfessor of Economics/Dean Research, PIDE
01:45 PMto 02:30 PM
Lunch break
02:30 PMto 03:45 PM
Mahbub ul Haq Memorial LecturePIDE Sky Hall
Economic Take-off Need Not be Difficult: Three Key Lessons and Pragmatic Forms of Assistance from China
Chair, keynote & discussant
Chair
- Dr Samuel RizkResident Representative, UNDP
Keynote speaker
- Prof Dr David Daokui LiTsinghua University, Beijing, China
Discussant
- Dr Nasir IqbalProfessor of Economics/Registrar, PIDE
03:45 PMto 05:15 PM
SymposiumPIDE Sky Hall
PhD Symposium
Sessions & speakers
03:45 – 04:30 PMConducting & writing research
- Dr Eatzaz AhmedProfessor of Economics/Associate Dean, Iqra University, Islamabad
04:30 – 05:15 PMPublishing with Springer
- Ms Tatiana GoleaAssociate Publisher, Springer Nature
Moderator
- Dr Karim KhanProfessor of Economics/Dean Academics, PIDE
05:15 PMto 06:00 PM
ClosingPIDE Sky Hall
Closing Session
Awards, takeaways & closing
05:15 – 05:30 PMAward ceremony
- Announcement of Best Paper Awards
- Poster Competition Winner Announcement
05:30 – 05:40 PMKey takeaways
- Dr Faheem JehangirDean (Policy), PIDE / Secretary, PSDE
05:40 – 05:50 PMClosing address
- Chief Guest
05:50 – 06:00 PMVote of thanks
- Dr Nadeem Javaid (SI)Vice Chancellor, PIDE / President, PSDE
Conference themes
Eight sectors that can carry Pakistan’s exports
The conference is organised around eight themes, each focused on clear, actionable reforms.
Agriculture, livestock & agro-based exports
Industrial development, manufacturing & SMEs
Mining, minerals & resource-based exports
Technology & ICT exports
Manpower & skills for export markets
Creative & cultural industry
Blue economy & maritime trade
Tourism as a services export industry
Conference objective
A high-impact, policy-influencing stage for applied research on the barriers to Pakistan’s export growth, and for clear, actionable reforms toward export-led prosperity.
Best paper awards
Where impactful research earns the spotlight
Outstanding technical papers will be awarded prizes, recognising research that is impactful, methodologically robust and focused on solutions.
PhD symposium & poster competition
Present your doctoral research to the people shaping policy
PSDE, in collaboration with PIDE, invites submissions for the PhD Symposium and Poster Presentation Competition at the 39th AGM & International Conference. Enrolled PhD candidates can present their research, engage with experts and compete for recognition and awards.
Who can applyCurrently enrolled PhD scholars from HEC-recognised universities and research institutions in Pakistan and abroad.
Distinguished lectures
A tradition of ideas that shaped economic debate
Each PSDE conference features named lectures by leading economists and policymakers.
Documents & flyers
Everything about the 39th AGM in one place
Select a flyer to preview it, or open the original file.
Venue & dates
See you in Islamabad
- Where
- Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, QAU Campus, Islamabad
- When
- October 14 & 15, 2026
Partners & supporters
1982Four decades of policy dialogue,
hosted by PIDE
hosted by PIDE
Networking & membership drive
Join Pakistan’s premier community of economists and public policy experts
For over four decades, PSDE has been a platform for policy discussion, scholarly exchange and evidence-based policymaking in Pakistan. Become part of the country’s leading professional network for economic and development research.
