Economists key to nation building in techno-economy era: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th May, 2026) Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday said economists must serve as architects of national policy building and play a leading role in steering Pakistan towards sustainable development in the rapidly evolving techno-economy era.

He expressed these views while addressing a certificate awarding ceremony organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics to mark the completion of the six-week induction training programme for Research Officers (Economist Group) of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, said a release issued here.

The minister, who attended the event as chief guest, distributed certificates among the newly inducted officers at PIDE’s Junior Combination Room in Islamabad.

In his keynote address, Prof Ahsan Iqbal termed the Ministry of Planning the “development brain” of the government and urged the officers to consider themselves nation-builders rather than routine officials.

He said Pakistan was once regarded as a champion of reforms, but frequent policy reversals and political instability enabled neighboring countries to move ahead economically.

The minister stressed the need for professionals capable of implementing practical and effective policy solutions to strengthen the country’s policy culture.

Referring to the transformative impact of artificial intelligence, he said humanity had entered a “techno-economy era” where changes now occurred within months instead of decades.

He warned that economists relying solely on industrial-era approaches would struggle to remain relevant and advised the officers to develop expertise in technology economics, digital economics, environmental economics and behavioral economics alongside conventional economic disciplines.

Prof Ahsan Iqbal also urged the officers to maintain integrity in handling national data and avoid manipulation under political pressure, describing credible data as the “fuel of future development.”

He observed that economic indicators reflected real human suffering, saying inflation meant families struggling to afford food, while economic slowdown translated into unemployment and hopelessness among youth.

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Vice Chancellor of PIDE Dr Nadeem Javaid said economists played a vital role in policymaking because every statistic carried a human story behind it.

He emphasized that newly inducted officers should remain aware of institutional “status quo forces” that resist reform and innovation.

Dr Javaid said competence without courage was insufficient and urged the officers to present independent analysis and challenge ineffective practices professionally, even before senior colleagues.

He cautioned against bureaucratic inertia and encouraged the participants to remain intellectually vibrant, adding that nations succeed globally through strong institutions and quality ideas.

Chief Economist at the Ministry of Planning, Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, advised the officers to maintain sincerity and professionalism throughout their careers.

He said individuals were ultimately recognized by the quality of their work and urged the participants to leave every institution better than they found it.

Director Executive Development Center PIDE, Dr Nadeem Khan, highlighted the scale of the programme, stating that it comprised 150 sessions conducted over six weeks under four major pillars including knowledge, skills, behavior and institutional exposure.

He said the curriculum included policy simulations, psychometric assessments and practitioner-led sessions involving economists, civil servants and behavioral experts.

The participants also visited the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, while each officer prepared a supervised policy review paper with mentor feedback, he added.

PIDE is an autonomous research institution working under the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and focuses on economic research, evidence-based policy making and public-sector capacity building in Pakistan.