Institutions, Growth and Development in Pakistan

Department of Economics, Government College University announces its two-day annual international conference on “Institutions, Growth and Development in Pakistan” on 2^nd - 3^rd May, 2013 and warmly invites the experts and researchers from the area of development economics, international economics, macroeconomics, financial economics, econometrics and business economics.

The objective of this conference is to provide a platform for academicians, experience researchers and young researchers to indulge in a meaningful dialogue, exchange their ideas and share their experiences so as to contribute towards efficient and improved policy making.

The conference would also strive to analyse the performance of administrative and financial institutions in Pakistan and their impact on the country’s growth and development. The conference would serve as an ideal platform for the review of existing policies and institutional framework. As the conference will be coinciding with the elections in the country; this would enable us to devise a revised policy and institutional framework for the new government. Moreover, exploration of the role of the NGOs, private entrepreneurs and other political and socio-economic actors in economic development is also going to be a major objective of the conference.

Furthermore, Pakistan as a developing country requires greater attention from academicians and experts in the field of policy making in order to meet the challenges that it faces, such as:

ü  The energy crisis

ü  Low savings

ü  Dual deficits

ü  Poor level of education

ü  Large underground economy

ü  Low level of competition in markets

ü  Political and cultural instability

ü  Poor water management

ü  Environmental degradation

ü  Poverty and social and economic inequality

The conference would aim to provide insight into means of coping with these challenges.

Another major focus of the conference would be the challenges that Pakistan faces with respect to liberalization. Many developing countries are trying to liberalize markets and enhance the role of market and economic institutions to accelerate the economic growth. Pakistan must also give attention to this key area of the economy, if it is to compete in the global market.

The presentations will focus on Pakistan. They can be Pakistan-centered, comparative study or case studies from other developing countries with lessons to be learnt for Pakistan.

Benefits to Pakistan

Growth and development of any country is not possible without efficient institutions and policies. These require a thorough understanding of the historical evolution of the economic and social processes in the country. This, in turn, cannot be achieved unless research is conducted in the relevant areas. Moreover, the researchers need to be provided with a platform to present and discuss the conclusions drawn from their respective researches.  The proposed conference would provide all these afore-mentioned opportunities. In addition, it will provide the following benefits to Pakistan:

• Provide a comprehensive review of the existing socio-economic policies and institutional design, to point out flaws in the status quo.
• Chalk out strategies for sustainable growth and development in Pakistan.
• Provide an insight into the economy from the perspectives of the investors, labourers, consumers, entrepreneurs.
• Devise a rational framework in order to ensure active participation of all economic and non-economic stakeholders in an economy.
• Conceive a system of self-regulating markets, combined with well-thought role of the government in planning and regulation.
• Formulate strategies for combatting challenges such as the energy crisis, illiteracy, poverty, instability, human security etc.