RASTA – PIDE & Planning Commission Competitive Research Grants

Competitive Grants Programme for Policy-oriented Research

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics

Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives

Research Advisory Committee

Shujaat Ali

PhD (Economics), Simon Fraser University, Canada Dr. Shujaat Ali is a retired civil servant and has held many important appointments including Special Secretary Finance. His experience in the commerce and investment division among many others makes him an expert on how public policy in the agriculture sector is executed. His widespread experience in heading public […]

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Imtiaz Ahmed

PhD (Economics), PIDE, Islamabad Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed is a seasoned economist and public policy expert, currently serving as the Chief Economist at Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives (MoPD&SI). With a strong academic background and extensive experience in economic policy, development planning, and macroeconomic analysis, he plays a key role in shaping Pakistan’s

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Aamena Aly Kamal

Masters in Communications, California State University, Fullerton USA Ms. Aamena Aly Kamal serves as Member Development Communication at the Planning Commission of Pakistan, bringing over 32 years of leadership in development communications, strategic marketing, and narrative design across public, private, and international sectors. She has led high-impact national programmes and campaigns on digital skills, tourism,

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Adnan Rafiq

PhD (Political Science & Government), University of Oxford Dr. Adnan Rafiq is a distinguished political scientist and public policy analyst. Since October 2022, he has served as the Member (Governance, Innovation & Reforms) at the Planning Commission of Pakistan, operating under the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives (MOPD & SI). In his role,

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Dr. Nasir Javed

MBA (with Focus on Urban Sector), University of Cardiff at Wales, UK | Bachelor of Laws(LLB), Karachi University | MCPS (Psychiatry), College of Physicisans and Surgeons Pakistan | MBBS, King Edward Medical College, Lahore Nasir Javed is an Urban Development Specialist with more than 25 years of cumulative & diverse experience of working as a

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Shujaat Farooq

PhD (Economics) PIDE, Islamabad | MA (Economics) University of the Punjab, Lahore Dr. Shujaat Farooq is an accomplished economist with extensive expertise in research and policy development across key areas including poverty alleviation, labor markets, education, health, rural economy, and social protection. With a Ph.D. from the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, he brings over

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Nasir Iqbal

Post-Doctorate, Duke University | Ph.D. (Economics) PIDE, Islamabad | M.A. (Economics) University of the Punjab, Lahore Dr. Nasir Iqbal is a distinguished economist and academic leader with over 17 years of experience in economic policy research, institutional governance, and social protection program design. He is the Associate Professor and Registrar at the Pakistan Institute of

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Usman Ghani

Post-Doctorate, Gatton College of Business & Economics, University of Kentucky,USA | PhD , SZABIST, Islamabad With a Post Doctorate from the Gatton College of Business & Economics, University of Kentucky, USA, Usman is currently serving as the Director/Rector of the Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar. He has  over two decades of management and research experience

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Dr. Nadeem Javaid

PhD (Economics), Université Côte d’Azur, France | MS (Innovation & Industrial Dynamics) IAE Nice Graduate School of Management, France | Masters, (Economics) Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan | Bachelor of Arts (Economics, Statistics) Government College University, Lahore With 25 years of experience spanning policymaking, central banking, academia, and Business strategy, he has played a pivotal role

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Sobia Khurram

PhD (Business Administration and Management) University of Stirling, UK Sobia Khurram is serving as a Professor of Management Sciences at the University of Punjab in Lahore. Her research interests include areas of tax administration reforms with special focus on autonomy and accountability and anti-corruption reforms. She teaches BS, Masters, MPhil and PhD students in Management,

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