Venue: Serena Hotel, Islamabad

Time: 9:00 am to 5:15 pm

The seminar was organized by the Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) in collaboration with the International Growth Centre (IGC)’s Pakistan Program to connect policymakers and academics. The event was hosted in partnership with CDPR affiliates, the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP) and the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS). The target audience included local and international researchers, academics and members of the civil society. Participants and panelists included people from academia as well as key government officials from Pakistan, relevant to the research being presented. The seminar focused on Creating Capabilities for Growth through various channels such as Firm Capabilities, State Capabilities, Trade, and Growth via China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The first session, on Enhancing Firm Capabilities, attended to improving the performance and efficiency of the manufacturing sector. The second session, on Improving State Capabilities, focused on enhancing the state’s capabilities via educational reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, technological innovation in livestock extension, and public procurement efficiency. The third session, on promoting trade, pertained to expanding trade for goods and services. The session also highlighted the areas of potential trading opportunities for the country. The fourth session, on Growth via CPEC, was a panel discussion on what CPEC means for Pakistan’s economy and in what ways provinces can use it to stimulate economic growth in the country.

Photographs of the seminar: https://www.flickr.com/photos/130636576@N02/albums/72157675370239322

Presentations

Session 1

1. Implementing Competitive Policies for Garments Manufacturing – Dr. Naved Hamid, Resident Director International Growth Centre Presentation

2. Innovation and Firm Performance in Developing Countries: A case of Pakistani Textiles Manufacturers – Dr. Waqar Wadho, Assistant Professor of Economics & Senior Research Fellow at Lahore School of Economics Presentation

3. Management Practices in Manufacturing Sector – Dr. Ali Choudhary, Director Research State Bank of Pakistan Paper

Session 2

1. Education Reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Work in progress)– Dr. Saher Asad, Assistant Professor of Economics at Lahore University of Management Sciences Presentation

2. Coordinating Farmers with Cellphones: Technology Innovation in Livestock Extension in Pakistan – Dr. Ali Hasanain, Assistant Professor of Economics at Lahore University of Management Sciences Paper

3. Incentives in Procurement – Dr. Oriana Bandiera, Professor of Economics at London School of Economics Presentation

Session 3

1. Pakistan’s International Trade: the Potential for Expansion Towards East and West (Work in progress)– Dr. Ehsan Choudhri, Distinguished Research Professor at Carleton University & CDPR Fellow Presentation

2. Trade Costs and Trade Composition of Export-Oriented Firms – Ghazan Jamal, In Country Economist International Growth Centre Presentation

3. Heritage Tourism, Punjab (Work in progress) – Dr. Turab Hussain, Associate Professor and Acting Head of Economics Department at Lahore University of Management Sciences & CDPR Fellow Presentation