Development: Discourses and Critiques

Message from the Conference Chair

On behalf of the School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS), I am thrilled to announce that the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) will be hosting the 2nd International Conference in March 2022. Last year, the center hosted the first international conference on “Economics and Sustainable Development” which received an overwhelming number of paper submissions, had an excellent lineup for speakers and was one of our most well-received events.

This year the theme for the conference is “Development: Discourses and Critiques”. The theme for this year recognizes the diversity within social sciences and humanities and the need to be critical of our sources of knowledge. We understand that different perspectives, methodologies, and frames of reference create a more nuanced understanding of social change, and we are inviting scholars from a wide range of disciplines to share their work.

While we move from 2021 to 2022 and overcome the damage caused by the pandemic, Pakistan is still confronted with several national and global challenges. The economy is struggling, inflation is rampaging, and long-term growth is declining. Female labour force participation is low, and the country has the 2nd highest number of out of school children. Climate change is causing mass migrations, increasing the pressure on cities and Pakistan is becoming water stressed by the day. The need for a robust dialogue is the necessity of the hour.

At this conference, we bring different expertise and experiences to the table and look forward to seeing how we build on this knowledge to create a better and informed future. This is an opportunity to learn, connect and build this future. In preparation for the conference, please submit your papers, attend the sessions on our vibrant campus, volunteer, network and get ready to engage with your colleagues and peers. I look forward to seeing all of you here with us at the IBA, Karachi.

S Akbar Zaidi
Conference Chair
Executive Director, IBA