Development Research and Policy: The Emergence of a Research Agenda through Webinars at PIDE

PIDE is committed to practical public policy research. It is the oldest think-tank in Pakistan that has always contributed to the policy narrative in Pakistan from planning days to the move to liberalisation and later to developing ideas on growth, poverty, cities, demographics, and society. We have worked hard to clarify our research agenda in coordination with universities, other research agencies, policy-makers, the private sector, regulatory agencies, and various factors that affect policy, economy, and society. PIDE believes that public policy research must solve critical problems that are impeding progress. To do this, we rely heavily on dialogue and debate. During the last year, PIDE has explored a variety of new areas in its research agenda. To draw upon local knowledge about important issues of the economy, we held a series of webinars engaging people with expertise and experience on subjects such as Pakistan railway, media industry, internet for all, sports industry, city development, the autonomy of SBP, electoral reforms, education policy, pre-budget seminars, aid dependency—not only for funds but also policy and the continuing saga of IMF programs.