Global Experts to grace 1st International Conference on "Economics and Sustainable Development" at the IBA Karachi

March 11, 2021: Growth and economic stability, coupled with urban resilience and its impact on utility services are some of the few pressing issues that the Pakistani economy must deal with in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. To address these social development issues, the School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS) at the IBA Karachi, in collaboration with the Centre of Business and Economic Research, will be hosting the 1st International Conference on "Economics and Sustainable Development". The 3-day conference is scheduled to be held from April 2-4, 2021 at the IBA City Campus.

The goal of the conference is to bring creative local and global ideas, best practices, and evidence-based solutions for the challenges faced by Pakistan and the world. The conference has attracted eminent speakers from around the world and aims to act as a bridge between the industry experts and the academia.

Celebrated economist and an accomplished author, Dr. Lant Pritchett from the University of Oxford will deliver the keynote address while Mr. Yasuyuki Sawada, Chief Economist, Asian Development Bank, Dr. Hafeez Pasha, Former Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Social Protection, Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, SAPM on Revenue, and many renowned personalities will add value to the ensuing discussions.

The research themes for the conference include Public Finance and Fiscal Policy, Growth, Development and Population Policy, Environment and Climate Change, Macroeconomics and Forecasting among other essential topics of concern. The conference will entail panel discussions with field experts, paper presentations from international researchers, technical sessions with eminent academics, poster sessions and a doctoral symposium.

Speaking about the significance of this conference, Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director IBA, said, "This inaugural conference will touch upon current macroeconomic issues, having a policy as well as an academic context. For those who are interested in contemporary issues, the panels discussions with industry experts will be helpful."

Dr. Asma Hyder, Dean SESS, invited participants to engage in discussions revolving around sustainable development. "We hope to build a dialogue around human development and equality and make a concerted effort to rebuild our future."

The audience of the conference would include participation from federal and provincial government departments, academic and research institutions, corporate sector, and local and international NGOs.

The Asian Development Bank, Engro Corporation, and K-Electric have partnered with the IBA in organizing this conference.