Islamabad: Ahsan Iqbal said economists are the architects of national policy building and urged newly inducted research officers to play an active role in shaping Pakistan's future through evidence-based policymaking and professional integrity.
He was addressing a certificate awarding ceremony hosted by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics to mark the completion of the '6-Week Induction Training Programme for Research Officers (Economist Group)' of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.
The Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives described the Ministry of Planning as the 'development brain' of the government and encouraged the officers to view themselves as nation-builders rather than routine bureaucrats.
Ahsan Iqbal observed that Pakistan was once regarded as a champion of reforms but frequent policy reversals and political instability enabled neighboring countries to move ahead economically. He stressed that Pakistan's policy culture requires professionals capable of implementing practical and sustainable policy solutions.
Referring to the rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence, he said humanity has entered a 'techno-economy era' in which changes occur within months rather than decades. He advised economists to develop expertise in technology economics, digital economics, environmental economics, and behavioral economics alongside conventional economic tools.
The minister urged officers not to manipulate data under political pressure, calling reliable data the 'fuel of future development.' He noted that every economic indicator carries a human dimension, where inflation translates into hardship for families and economic slowdown reflects unemployment and uncertainty among youth.
Vice Chancellor of PIDE, Dr. Nadeem Javaid, emphasized that economists play a central role in policymaking because every statistic reflects the lived realities of people. He warned newly inducted officers about entrenched 'status quo forces' within institutions that often resist reform and encouraged them to present independent and constructive analysis in policy discussions.
Chief Economist at the Ministry of Planning, Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, advised officers to maintain sincerity and professionalism throughout their careers and strive to leave every institution stronger than they found it.
Director of the Executive Development Center, Dr. Nadeem Khan, said the six-week programme comprised 150 sessions structured around knowledge, skills, behavior, and institutional exposure. He stated that the curriculum included policy simulations, psychometric assessments, practitioner-led sessions, and field visits to key government institutions, while each participant also completed a supervised policy review paper.
The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics is an autonomous research institution operating under the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, focusing on economic research, evidence-based policymaking, and public-sector capacity building in Pakistan.