Let's Talk Development

When it comes to digital progress, till date Pakistan has dealt with a few persistent challenges such as macroeconomic headwinds, regulatory issues, digital inclusion, and literacy rates. According to the inclusive internet index 2022, Pakistan ranked last out of the 22 countries in Asia. Infrastructure availability, affordability and digital literacy contribute significantly to Pakistan’s poor socio-economic performance, with digital inclusion for women emerging as an even greater challenge. Monis Rehman and Anam Malkani discuss the challenges and opportunities of the digital space in Pakistan highlighting policy options which may help reduce the gender differential in the digital practice.

Pakistan is fraught with a number of economic, social, political, and environmental challenges. To effectively address these issues, it is imperative to not view them in isolation but to combat them in tandem paying attention to the systemic connections between them. Deferring climate action in favour of poverty reduction or political stabilization presents a very real threat; the magnitude of the climate change problem may become so large that it overwhelms all other challenges. Dr. Adil Najam and Rafay Alam discuss how governments can find a balance between imperatives of economic growth and development while prioritizing meaningful climate action.

Widespread poverty has plagued Pakistan for decades. In 2022, 21.9% of the population was reported to be living below the National Poverty Line. The recent economic crisis has worsened this state of affairs and has doubled concerns about the disproportionate impact of rising poverty on the lives of Pakistan's population, particularly those segments that are already poor and disadvantaged. Dr. Ijaz Nabi and Dr. Imran Rasul delved deep into these issues in the latest episode and discussed the merits of cash vs in-kind social protection in the Pakistani context.

Many analysts and observers of India's economy are proclaiming that India's moment has arrived and it is now poised to rival China in terms of economic prosperity. However, Dr. Ashoka Mody, a Professor of Economics at Princeton University with rich experience in the global economy, contradicts this assertion by saying that India is still mired in deep economic malaise. Let's listen to his insights as they also hold relevance for Pakistan.

Why did Pakistan fall so far behind in terms of growth from its neighbours? To what extent was this due to low worker productivity? How do we measure worker productivity? How do exports and women working in the labour force help increase productivity? In this episode, Dr. Ijaz Nabi and Dr. Gonzalo Varela answer these questions.

The recent global developments including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China’s growing regional footprint in South Asia, and the intensifying global strategic competition between China and the United States reinforce new and significant geopolitical trends for Pakistan. Uzair Younus and Arifa Noor discuss how in this situation, Pakistan should leverage its relationships with its allies, including the United States and China, to ameliorate its various internal and external conflicts. They also discuss how the economic and political crises taking root in Pakistan affect the country’s access to world capital for investment and growth starting with the resumption of the IMF program.

Uzair Younus is the director of the Pakistan Initiative at the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. Arifa Noor is a journalist.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CDPR or any of its affiliates.

Recently, we have seen people from across the class spectrum migrate to other countries at a level never seen before. Dr. Ali Khan and Mohsin Hamid discuss some of the leading causes responsible for driving the crisis of international migration in Pakistan, including an intensifying economic crisis and political turmoil, surging terrorism, and constant threats of natural disasters.Dr. Ali Khan is the Dean at Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School for Humanities and Social Sciences, LUMS. Mohsin Hamid is an acclaimed Pakistani author—his major works include The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Moth Smoke, Exit West, and The Last White Man.

Pakistan is one of the most urbanized countries of South Asia. However, urbanization has led to such rapid expansion of Pakistan’s cities that they struggle to deliver public services, create productive jobs, and implement effective policies regarding planning. Dr. Omar Masud and Fizzah Sajjad draw attention to these pressing matters and offer a compelling exploration of the urban landscape in Pakistan.