Let's Talk Development

The growing tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan in light of the latest events of the expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has become of imminent concern to the country. Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais and Asad Rahim Khan talk about the importance of protecting the rights of Afghan refugees in the country who have been residing here for several years and explore the causes behind the changes in po...

Despite contributing to only about 0.9% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains high amongst the list of countries that are most vulnerable to climate change. Dr. Faraz Hayat, Tim Dobermann and Dr. Sugandha Srivastav discuss climate change in Pakistan in light of the ongoing COP28 negotiations where they examine the pace of progress towards reducing emissions globally. Focusing on...

Pakistan’s major priority regarding its foreign policy over the years has been to increase Pakistan’s engagement in the region in a way that makes the region more cohesive and more economically integrated. With Pakistan’s geographical location posing a challenge, navigating through its foreign policy has always been a major concern for successive governments. In this podcast, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar...

Currently, one of the biggest challenges that Pakistan is facing is the ever-increasing population growth and lack of family planning. 40% of Pakistan’s area is underserved when it comes to family planning programmes and according to the latest population census, Pakistan’s current population amounts to 240 million people, which makes it the fifth most populous country in the world. Nazish Afraz a...

In Pakistan, election decisions can be dependent on either the party’s label or the party’s ideology. Currently, Pakistan’s political parties are facing a number of constraints in trying to influence the outcomes of voters’ choice during election time. Dr. Niloufer Siddiqui and Dr. Asad Liaqat discuss these constraints and how the upcoming election outcomes can be influenced by the way parties are...

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 so...

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...

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...

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...

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, includi...

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...

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 Pak...

According to the latest 2023 population census, the enumerated population has reached 230.4 million—indicating an increase of 17.2 million people from the 2017 census. While the fertility rate has dropped globally; it remains stubbornly high in Pakistan where women and girls lack access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, including contraception. Rapid population growth seems like a daunting pr...

Pakistan’s water supply has become a crucial resource challenge in recent years, made worse by the country’s enduring infrastructure and governance problems. The prospect of a major water crisis in Pakistan offers a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of the country to global climate change. The destructive floods that submerged a third of the country last year demonstrate this. In this...

As with many megacities in the developing world, Karachi deals with critical issues including governance and service delivery. Dr. Umair Javed and Jibran Nasir discuss the risks that residents face due to local governance challenges in Karachi.

In this episode, Dr. Ijaz Nabi speaks with Dr. Murtaza Syed to discuss what led to a full-blown economic crisis in Pakistan and whether the IMF’s intervention would be able to prevent default.