DAY 2 - 16th APRIL, 2025 - WEDNESDAY - 09:00 AM – 09:00 PM

Parallel Technical Sessions

09:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Crystal Ball Room 1

Gig Economy: Opportunities and Challenges

Chair/Moderator:
Dr. Baber Majid Bhatti
CEO, NITB

Paper Presenters:
Mehwish Umar & Shumaila SadiqImpact of Freelancing on Household Well-Being in South Punjab.
Masood Ul Hassan et al.Are Freelancers Satisfied with their Jobs? Impact of Freelancer Value Proposition (FVP) on Job Satisfaction, Mediating Role of Meaningful Work.
Misbah BashirThe Gig Economy: Opportunities and Challenges – The New Avenue of Research in Pakistan.
• Syed Talha Ali & Uzma ZiaCustomer Satisfaction Trends in Pakistan’s Digital Retail Landscape.

Discussant:
Dr. Maqsood AslamSOE, QAU

Crystal Ball Room 2

Digitization and Women Empowerment

Chair/Moderator:
Zafar ul HassanPlanning Commission

Paper Presenters:
Samina SabirFinancial Inclusion, Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth: Evidence from Developing Countries.
Misbah Tanveer ChoudhryImpact Assessment of TDAP Women Development Program on Technology Adoption in Female Entrepreneurs.
Sumaira YasminAn In-depth Study of Job Satisfaction among Women Transitioning to Online Jobs.
Sumera MehmoodAI-Driven Financial Education: Addressing Behavioral Biases for Sustainable Women’s Entrepreneurship.

Discussant:
Ahsan Ul HaqPIDE

Parallel Technical Sessions

09:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Jade Ball Room

Regulation, Digital
Policy & Barriers

Chair/Moderator:
Dr. Khalid Mahmood – MD, MoNFS&R

Paper Presenters:
Muhammad Zeeshan & Unbreen QayyumRegulatory Frictions and Digital Economy in Pakistan: A CGE-Sludge Framework Analysis.
Yasir Zada KhanDigitalization, Automation, and Integration: A Much-Needed Approach to Reduce Regulatory Sludge in Restaurant Licensing and Compliance.

• Muhammad Waseem & Saima Nawaz
Navigating Global Value Chains for Sustainable Growth: The Role of E-Government and Institutions in a Globalized World.

• Madeeha QuraishiPakistan’s Mining Sector: Enhancing Policy and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Digitalization, and Green Technologies with Foreign Direct Investment.

Discussant:
Dr. Muhammad JamilSBP Chair, AJK

Lapis Ball Room

Upskilling and AI

Chair/Moderator:
Fazal Muhammad
Former Head, NPGP, MoPA&SS

Paper Presenters:

  • Muhammad Ehsan & Fauzia Ajmal
    Integrating Micro-Credentials into Higher Education: Skilling Youth to Enhance Employability in Pakistan.
  • Nasreen Aziz Sahito & Hafsa Hina
    From Chalkboards to Clicks: An Evidence Based Policy Roadmap for ICT Integration in Primary Education.
  • Anjeela Khurrum & Fizzah Butt
    The Landscape of AI in Education and Research.
  • Henna Ahsan & Ajmal Kakar
    Assessing the Key Determinants of ICT Adoption in Pakistan from Demand and Supply Perspective

Discussant:
Prof. Dr. Tallat Anwar, SBP, BZU

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM Tea Break

Crystal Ball Room (CBR)

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Panel 2:
Charting Pakistan’s Fiscal Trajectory: Enhancing Transparency & Trust

Guest of Honor:
Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik – State Minister MoF&R

Panelists:
• Dr. Hamid Ateeq SarwarMember, FBR
• Dr. Mahmood Khalid – PD (CPEC)/SRE, PIDE
• Mr. Tobias HaqueEconomist, World Bank
• Dr. Ali Salman – ED, PRIME
• Ms. Hina UsmaniManaging Partner, Usmani & Co
• Dr. Ikram Ul HaqTax Expert (Legal)

Moderator:
Mr. Nasruminallah MianHead of Program & Digital/ICT, ADB

12:30 PM – 01:30 PM - Lunch Break

Crystal Ball Room (CBR)

01:30 PM – 03:00 PM

Quaid-e-Azam Lecture

Digital Transformations, AI, Productivity, and the Future of Work: A Conversation for Pakistan

Keynote Speaker:

Prof. A. Micheal Spence

Nobel Laureate

Chair:
Dr. Eatzaz Ahmed
Former VC, QAU

Discussants:
Dr. Huma Baqai
Rector, MITE
Dr. Khalid Hafeez
VC BUITEMS, Quetta

Moderator:
Dr. Nasir Iqbal
Secretary, PSDE

 

Crystal Ball Room (CBR)

03:00 PM – 04:30 PM

Panel 3:
Bridging the Digital Divide: Women and Youth as Drivers

Guest of Honor:
Ms. Wajiha Qamar
State Minister, MoFE&PT

Panelists:
• Ms. Emma Fan, Country Director, ADB
• Dr. Hadia Majid, Chairperson, Economics, LUMS
• Dr. Faheem Jehangir, Director Policy, PIDE
• Ms. Mahnoor Salman, Co-founder, atomcamp
• Dr. Shujaat Farooq, Director Research, PIDE
• Ms. Saima Hashim, Ambassador, Akhuwat Foundation

Moderator:
Ms. Aamena Aly Kamal
Member, MoPD&SI

04:30 PM – 05:00 PM - Tea Break

05:00 PM – 06:30 PM

Panel 4:
Reimagining Universities for the Digital Age

Chair:
Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja
Federal Minister, MoIT&T

Panelists:
• Dr. Nadeem Javaid (SI), VC, PIDE
• Dr. Muhammad Zubair Iqbal, VC BZU, Multan
• Dr. Huma Baqai, Rector, MITE
• Dr. Fazal Ahmad Khalid (SI), Rector (designated), GIKI
• Dr. Khalid Hafeez, VC BUITEMS, Quetta
• Dr. Jamil Ahmad, Member, HEC
• Mr. Saad Liaquat Kiani, CTO, Thunder

Moderator:
Dr. Naveed Iftikhar
Co-founder, atomcamp

06:30 PM – 09:00 PM URAAN Cultural Night & Dinner (By Invitation)