6th
RASTA–PIDE Conference
6th RASTA-PIDE Conference Programme – 15–17 May 2026, Online
6th Conference
RASTA-PIDE Conference
Tentative Programme
Friday 15 – Sunday 17 May 2026 · Online
Day 1 — Friday, 15 May 2026
Welcome Remarks
Nadeem Javaid (SI) — Vice Chancellor, PIDE / RAC Chairman, RASTA
RASTA Progress Report
Faheem Jehangir Khan — Dean, Policy Advocacy, PIDE / Project Director, RASTA
Secretary's Remarks
Awais Manzoor Sumra — Secretary, Ministry of PD&SI
Chief Guest Address
Prof Ahsan Iqbal (NI) — Hon'ble Federal Minister / Deputy Chairman Planning Commission / Chancellor, PIDE
Assessing the Effectiveness of IT Skills Development Programmes in Promoting Digital Skills Among Youth in Balochistan
Comparative Evaluation of Outsourced and Non-Outsourced Health Facilities: Public and Public-Private Partnerships in Healthcare Delivery in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Evaluating Effectiveness of Polycentric Climate Governance in Pakistan: A Case Study of GLOF-II
Evaluating Higher Education in Pakistan: An Appraisal of Research Publication Landscape
Challenges and Opportunities for the Fresh Fruit Supply Chain in District Chitral
Discussant: Zafar ul Hasan — Former Joint Chief Economist, M/o PD&SI
Break · 1800 – 1900 hrs
Modernising Digital Inclusive Education for Hearing-Impaired Learners in Pakistan
Trust in State & Politics: Evaluating the Civic Engagement and Compliance Among Citizens of Pakistan
Inclusivity of Neurodiverse Youngsters in Higher Education and Employment: Data-Driven Policy Solution
Graduates' Low Employability in Pakistan: Modelling Demand for Marketable Knowledge and Skills
Empowered Choices: A Curriculum for Understanding Boundaries and Consent
Discussant: Hafeez A. Jamali — DG Balochistan Civil Services Academy, Quetta
Day 2 — Saturday, 16 May 2026
Mitigating Climate Change Impacts on Pregnancy Outcomes and Newborn Health in Pakistan
Assessing the Impact of Local Sports Infrastructure on Youth Development in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
From "Disable" to "Gigable": Leveraging Gig-Platforms for Inclusivity and Well-Being of People with Disability
Manpower Exports: A Study of Challenges & Opportunities for the Youth
Tax Compliance, Tax Behaviour and Tax Misperception: Evidence from Faisalabad
Discussant: Nooreen Mujahid — Director, AERC, University of Karachi
Education Policy and Practice in Pakistan
Break · 1800 – 1900 hrs
Rethinking Smog Mitigation in Punjab: Policy Effectiveness, Governance Gaps, and Incentive-Based Solutions
Climate Resilience Approach to Sustain the Solid Waste Sector Through Analytical Hierarchy Process for Policy Decision
CBAM Policy Development, Adaptation and Compliance: A Case Study of Textile Sector in Punjab
Sustainable Agricultural Residue Management Options for Smog Reduction
Mitigating Air Pollution and Urban Heat Through Climate-Sensitive Health Intervention
Discussant: Nasir Javed — Former CEO, The Urban Unit Punjab
Day 3 — Sunday, 17 May 2026
The Role of Economic Ideas in Shaping Pakistan's Political History
Governance Challenges Under Coalition Governments: A Case of Balochistan (2013 to 2023)
Genesis of Perennial Instability and Ineffective Governance in Pakistan: Role of Regional Parties and Independent Candidates in Coalition Governments
The Political Dynamics of Bureaucratic Turnover
Strengthening Judicial Independence: A Data-Driven Approach to Legal, Economic, and Ethical Competency
Discussant: Atta Ullah Shah — Vice-Chancellor, Karakorum International University, Gilgit
The State of Commerce in Pakistan: Structure, Constraints, and Policy Imperatives (Quetta, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Lahore & Karachi)
Reframing Poverty Reduction in Pakistan: Toward a Sustainable, Market-Linked Model
Citypedia: An Encyclopedia of Pakistani Cities
Break · 1800 – 1900 hrs
Cemetery Management and Funeral Services: Challenges for City Government and Way Forward
At the Crossroads of Reform and Survival: The Unstructured Bus System of Karachi
Precarization as an Instrument of Governing Khawaja Sira Community and the Provision of Social Protection in Pakistan
The Future of Natural Gas in Pakistan: A Review of Policy Framework
Analyzing Sector-Specific Flows of Fixed Investment and Measuring Stock of Physical Capital in Pakistan
Discussant: Zainab Jahan — Associate Professor, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi
Lessons, Way Forward & Vote of Thanks