Islamabad: The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), the country's premier research institution under the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, hosted a detailed briefing session for the probationers of the 48th Specialized Training Programme (STP) of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) on Tuesday. The session aimed to familiarize young civil servants with PIDE's evolving role as a national think tank, research hub, and policy advisory institution.
On behalf of Vice Chancellor Dr. Nadeem Javaid, PIDE management welcomed the probationers and presented an overview of PIDE's legacy, achievements, and national contributions. Since its establishment in 1957, PIDE has emerged as Pakistan's top-ranked economic research institute and is recognized among leading think tanks in Asia.
Registrar PIDE, Dr. Nasir Iqbal, congratulated the probationers and highlighted the importance of their role in shaping Pakistan's administrative future. He emphasized the need to bridge the gap between citizens and outdated administrative systems and urged the new PAS officers to lead the transition toward modern, AI-driven, data-integrated, and citizen-centred governance.
The probationers were briefed on PIDE's core services across taxation, public finance, governance, climate resilience, education, and economic reforms. As the advisory arm of the Ministry of Planning, PIDE provides technical analysis, policy evaluation, and reform guidance to support national decision-making.
Under the current leadership, participants were introduced to PIDE's Institutional Development Strategy 2025-2030, which focuses on five pillars-Research, Engagement, Academia, Counsel, and Hub. The strategy aims to expand academic programs, strengthen data systems, enhance policy engagement, and deepen collaboration with government agencies.
Dr. Shujaat Farooq, Dean of Research, showcased PIDE's research outcomes and the Vice Chancellor's vision for the next five years. He detailed specialized research centers focusing on macroeconomics, governance, digital economy, agriculture, climate change, and regulatory analysis, as well as the institute's flagship journal, the Pakistan Development Review (PDR).
Dr. Karim Khan, Dean of Academics, provided an overview of PIDE's academic programs and its strong placement record, noting that graduates hold key positions in policymaking bodies, international organizations, academia, and the financial sector. Dr. Faheem Jehangir, Dean of Policy, highlighted PIDE's policy advocacy initiatives, national conferences, policy campaigns, and the Executive Development Centre's role in building capacity across government and private organizations.
The session also highlighted two major national initiatives hosted at PIDE: RASTA, Pakistan's largest public policy research network with over 6,700 researchers, and the Centre of Excellence for CPEC (CoE-CPEC), which provides strategic guidance on industrial cooperation, connectivity, climate resilience, and socio-economic development.
The briefing concluded with an interactive QandA session, during which probationers discussed governance challenges, research needs, and collaboration opportunities. Participants lauded PIDE's contributions and emphasized the importance of strengthening research-policy linkages to enable effective public service delivery.