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TWO-WEEK WORKSHOP AT GCU
Entrepreneurships
should be encouraged to end unemployment in the country. Research,
interaction, financial modeling, negotiations skills and decision making
are the key five factors for the success of a new business. It was
stated by experts at a two-week workshop on ‘Entrepreneurship
Development and Business Creation Exercise in Pakistan’ at the GC
University Lahore.
The training workshop,
conducted by reputed trainers including Syed Almas Hydar, Synthetic
Fibers MD, Imtiaz Khalid, Petrotec International Chief Executive and
Director Rafiq Jaffer, Institute of Social Sciences, was organized by
the GCU Economics Department to create awareness among future
entrepreneurs about the key elements of entrepreneurial behavior The
experts said Pakistan is the market of 170 million people which in
itself an opportunity for the new businessmen and industrialists.
Addressing the
concluding ceremony, GCU Economics Department Asif Saeed said that the
dearth of the entrepreneurial and managerial skill is one of the most
common problems being confronted by all under developed countries like
Pakistan. He said Entrepreneurship should be encouraged to help
alleviate the problem of unemployment, overcome stagnation through
innovation and to increase the competitiveness and growth of business
and industries in an economy.
Pakistan’s noted
entrepreneurs including Nagina Group Director Shaukat Ellahi Shaikh,
Emtecs Managing Director Tariq Rehman, K.M Ashraf and Sons (Pvt) Limited
CEO Musharraf Iqbal Khawaja and Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and
Industry former president Rana Shahzad Hafeez also shared their
experiences with the participants.
Prof. Dr Khalid
Pervaiz, Dean of Social Sciences, Arts and Oriental Learning gave away
the certificates to the participants of the course. He said this
activity will pave the way for the would-be entrepreneurs to develop and
grow new businesses. He also highlighted the achievements of the GCU in
the field of research and development.
(02-08-2010)
Economics Department GCU organizes
a presentation ceremony on “Fan industry of Pakistan: dynamics of small,
medium and large size firms”
Economics Department has organized a ceremony of a research project
based on “Fan industry of Pakistan: dynamics of small, medium and large
size firms”. Three year duration research program completed under the
supervision of GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab and in collaboration
with Strathclyde University, Glasgow, UK is the output of the HEC-British
Council Higher Education Link Programme. The report revels that Pakistan
fan industry producing more than two million fans annually has a strong
potential of competing against international brands besides it can beat
India in the Indian market if the trade is opened with the neighbouring
country. The owners and managers of the fan industry besides research
experts from Higher Education Commission (HEC), academia, financial
services and SME development attended the report launching ceremony.
The
report says the local industry produced over 17.1 million fans in 2008.
However, the production was only 7.1 million in 2000. The increasing
trend can be attributed to increase in population, access to
electricity, weather condition and fast growing construction sector
across the world. About 80 percent fan manufacturers believed that
there is more room for investment in this sector. The report
recommended that there is a need for establishing common centres like
quality testing labs and business advice centre. It states that special
incentives be given to manufacturers for exploring the international
market even further. It also proposes that the small and medium
enterprises require technical up gradation. They are using out dated
manufacturing plants which consumes more electricity. They also lack
trained and skill labour which has the knowledge of modern techniques.
Taranum
Fans CEO Muhammad Asalm said that the small and medium enterprises
cannot afford to hire engineers. He demanded that the government should
provide training to their workers at their factories so that their work
is not affected. He requested the Vice Chancellor GCU to provide them
the research report on fan industry in Urdu as 95 percent of fan
manufacturers do not understand English. He said that production of
fans on electricity generators have increased their production cost. He
said that they are producing high quality fans but they lacked export
incentives and opportunities. He stressed the government should buy fans
from them and then sale it in the international market.
Metro
Group President Imtaiz Ahmed said there is a trade of fans of $5 billion
in the international market annually, out of which Pakistan’s share is
about 10 percent of it. However, he also demanded more export incentives
from the government. He termed the research report extremely beneficial
for Pakistan Fan Manufactures Association for expanding the business.
Dr.
Altaf Ali G. Sheikh Member Academics Higher Education Commission of
Pakistan pledged more support from the Higher Education Commission for
Industries-Universities linkages.
Speaking
on the occasion, GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab laid a stress on
developing active linkages with the industries and foreign universities
for research development. He said that economic growth is sustained and
smooth where industrial activities are linked with the specialisation of
individual areas. He said that fan industry in Pakistan evolve without a
break from craft related to technology based activities.
Asif
Saeed Chairman Economics Department, Aqeel Imtiaz wagha and Uzair Ahsan
also spoke on the occasion.
(29-01-2010)
Workshop on Case Study Writing Methodology
Department of Economics GCU Lahore organised a workshop on ‘Case Study
Writing Methodology: Bringing the Real World into the Classroom for
Teaching’ under the aegis of its Higher Education Link with the
University of Strathclyde.
Iqbal M
Khan Case Director Development Unit Lahore School of Economics delivered
a detailed multimedia lecture on conducting a case study. He said that
the case study should be written in an interesting way and the writer
should avoid being judgmental. He also highlighted the uses of case
studies which include the learning of real life situations. Iqbal M Khan
also told the students in detail about the common errors and methods of
editing case study besides its types.
(18-12-2009)
ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT ARRANGES A SPECIAL LECTURE ON “IRRELEVANCE OF
ECONOMICS AND PAKISTAN”
The Department of Economics, Government College University Lahore
arranged an invited lecture on “Irrelevance of Economics and Pakistan”.
The lecture was delivered by
Dr. Nadeem-ul-Haque, Former Vice Chancellor Pakistan Institute of
Development Economics, Islamabad and Ex-Chief Economist, Government of
Pakistan. He underlined the need for proactive research in academic
institutions on current economic issues and challenges for public policy
development and formulation.
He said Pakistan confronts myriad economic problems which stem from poor
governance bad economic management like the current energy crisis,
incentives for industry at the cost agriculture and neglect of domestic
commerce and there is any published research on these issues. He said
the cities are engines of growth and create opportunities for socio
economic development. To make things worse, intellectual discourse on
all these issues is missing. He calls for promoting discourse on key
development issues and serious thinking and research to get to grips
with the current economic problems.
He further said that our economic policies should be by product of
quality research. It is against this backdrop that the relevance of
economics should be highlighted in institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Government College University
Lahore Dr. Khalid Aftab said that the GCU has a tradition of conducting
debates and seminars and today this lecture kept this tradition going.
He said educational institutions should exercise intellectual freedom in
order to ensure constructive and meaning debate on key economic and
financial issues. Chairman Department of Economics Mr. Asif Saeed said
that the department will keep on encouraging debate and promoting
discourse on economic issues through seminars and workshops by engaging
the students and teachers.
(04-07-2009)
Nadia Saleem GCU BECOMES FIRST PhD HOLDER OF THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT GC
UNIVERSITY LAHORE
Nadia Saleem
Assistant Professor became the first PhD Degree holder of the Department
of Economics GCU after getting the status of University in September
2002. Her topic was “Dynamics of Inflation, Exchange Rates and Inflation
Targeting in Pakistan”, which indicated the current problem of
increasing prices and its impact on economic growth. She completed her
research under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab the Vice
Chancellor GCU Lahore.
In her thesis she
discussed the problems emerged from high inflation rate which was a
concern for public and policy makers. The study concluded that inflation
emerges from uncertainty and by forecasting the inflation rate this
uncertainty can be avoided. She suggested that people could form
expectations and central bank should be responsible for monitoring
inflation. Uncertainty should be prevented because it made the monetary
policy ineffective on the one hand and it jeopardizes the growth because
no business could invest in highly risky environment.
(27-06-2009)
ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT GC UNIVERSITY LAHORE ORGANIZES PRE-BUDGET SEMINAR
Department of
Economics GC University Lahore organized a pre-budget seminar at Fazal-e-Husain
Reading Room. Addressing the seminar Chairman Punjab Rural Support
Program Tariq Sultan said that we should focus our development policies
on agriculture sector which was the backbone of the economy. He said
that despite of getting more revenue from the agriculture sector, our
policies were damaging the agriculture and people of the rural areas
were living below the poverty line. Director Research Beacon House
National University Lahore Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha said that budget should
focus on the revival of the industrial sector and efforts should be made
for the promotion of exports. She said that unemployment rate was
increasing due to industrial crisis and 40 percent of the population
living below poverty line. Asad Feroze Chairman Members Network Panel
Pakistan proposed introduction of green taxes for reducing the pollution
as well as extending the tax base. Asif Saeed Chairperson Economics
Department GC University Lahore also spoke on the occasion.
At the end, the
Dean Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Khalid Pervaiz
presented souvenirs to the guest speakers.
(30-05-2009)
Ravian Economists Alumni Organizes Annual Dinner. Vice Chancellor urges
the students to accept the challenges of modern age
Prof. Khalid Aftab
Vice Chancellor Government College University Lahore has called upon the
young students to show solid commitment for building economic future of
the country. He said the students to accept the challenges of modern age
through integrated efforts.” He expressed these views while addressing
the participants of the Ravian Economists Alumni, Economics Department
of GCU. He said that we should prepare ourself for facing the economic
challenges posed the current financial crisis. Pointing out the biggest
problem of human resource deficit, the Vice Chancellor said in spite of
numerous problems and hurdles, we at GCU have maintained our standards
and incessantly engaged in providing better facilities to our students.
The guest speaker
Dr. Ijaz Nabi, Dean Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Lahore
University of Management Sciences said non-collection of taxes, decline
in exports, escalation in imports, extremely weak social protection
system, energy crisis and deteriorating law and order were the major
issues confronting Pakistan. He said presently we were facing tough
times and passing through a very critical stage of our history. He said
we were not focusing on economic growth and particular after 2007 our
economy has been damaged badly. He underlined the need to Lear from the
growth experiences of the East Asia in which exports provided the
impetus to their economies.
Chairperson
Economics Department Asif Saeed presented the annual report and
highlighted the achievements of the Departments in research and
teaching. The copies of 9th volume of “Econo Mag”
distributed among the participants. Hammad Raza and Huma Rabbani
conducted the ceremony. Nazir Ahmad Music Society’s artists entertained
the audience after the dinner.
(26-05-2009)
THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT GCU ORGANIZES FOUR DAYS INVITED LECTURES SERIES
OF PROF. ROY GRIEVE
TOP
The
Economics Department GCU Lahore organized a four days series of invited
lectures under its Higher Education Link (HEC-BC JHELPII) with
University of Strathclyde Glasgow UK. The series of lectures were
delivered on four different topics. The series of lectures focused on
“Macro Matters: Classical, Neoclassical and Keynesian Perspectives were
delivered by Prof. Roy Grieve (University of Strathclyde Glasgow UK) at
N. M. Rashid Auditorium of GCU Postgraduate Library.
On
first day lecture was delivered on “The Problem and its Background”
which specially focusing on macro economics a bit of mess and old
thinking - the classics – Says law. On second day lecture was delivered
on “After Keynes 1” and the area discussed was theoretical quibbles –
monetarism the pigou effect. The third day talk focused on “After Keynes
2” and the area was a phoney synthesis – the AD/AS model and where it
takes us, why this messy state. The fourth day topic was “The Present
Crisis”.
Vice Chancellor GCU presenting souvenir to
Prof. Roy Grieve
Prof.
Roy Grieve while delivering the special lecture on “The Present Crisis”
said that the current crisis started in 2007 and intensified in
September 2008 originated with the bursting of a speculative bubble in a
particular sector of western financial markets, specially the housing
market, principally in the USA and UK which rapidly spread beyond its
epicentre in these markets. He further said that the initial financial
collapse in the US and UK had sent out shock waves impinging on
countries across the world economy via effects on international trade,
lending and generally on business and consumer confidence. He further
added that the effects of economic crisis on China and Japan damage the
economies of continental Europe and the emerging economies, like
Pakistan which is the least developed country such as those of
sub-Saharan Africa. Pakistan is one of many countries which have already
asked the IMF for help to pay foreign creditors. Prof. Roy Grieve said
that the economic crisis was the major reason of unemployment and in US
has shed 3.6 million jobs in just over two years with unemployment
recorded 7.2 % in December 2008, rising to 7.6 % in January 2009 and in
UK unemployment rising from 5.2 to 6.5 % over the year. He highlighted
that the initial impact of the collapse of grossly inflated house
values, amidst default by disappointed property speculators and
over-extended borrowers and foreclosures by lenders, in the US and
elsewhere, was the sudden destruction of wealth and borrowing power and
a consequent slump in consumer spending. Prof. Roy Grieve also called on
the Vice Chancellor GCU. The Vice Chancellor congratulated the guest
speaker on the successful completion of lecture series. He said the
lectures have been very insightful and highly rewarding for students of
macro economics. It is pertinent to mention here that the British
professor’s visit would help to create better interaction regarding
exchange programmes among the institutions.
The
series of lectures was well attended by economists, faculty members from
GCU and other academics institutions of Lahore along with students.
(08-05-2009)
AQUEEL IMTIAZ WAHGA HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE TALENTED RESEARCHER
EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
TOP
Aqueel Imtiaz
Wahga, Lecturer in Economics, has been selected for the Talented
Researcher Exchange Programme under the British Council’s International
Strategic Partnerships in Research & Education (INSPIRE) programme for
the year 2009. Aqeel Wahga will conduct joint research with Prof. Andrew
Burke, the chair of Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship School of
Management Cranfield University. He presented his research proposal on
“Entrepreneurship and Innovation”. The research will focus on the
industrial dynamism of Pakistan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
sector. Presently he is coordinator of MS program in Entrepreneurship
and Small and Medium Enterprises Management of GCU’s Department of
Economics.
(25-03-2009)
COLLABORATION AMONG EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS URGED
TOP
Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab Vice Chancellor GCU Lahore has
underscored the need to promote cooperation and collaboration among the
educational institutions in order to encourage research on key economic
issues and challenges and fill the gap that currently exists in terms of
qualified human resource.
Prof Dr Khalid Aftab stated this while addressing the
inaugural session of the PIDE’s (Pakistan Institute of Development
Economics) Golden Jubilee Seminar jointly organized by the GCU
Department of Economics and PIDE.
He said the shortage of quality manpower was the biggest
deficit. He referred to the experiences of British Universities which
were coming together and pooling resources to produce quality graduates
and research for the greater benefit of the society. He appreciated
PIDE’s contribution in the field of economic and social research and
hoped that collaborative research would be encouraged in educational
institutions in future.
PIDE Vice Chancellor Dr Rashid Amjad highlighted the
contributions made by institute in recent years after attaining the
status of the university. He said the PIDE had served as a good
intellectual hub for economists of the country.
Dr Ijaz Nabi, Dean Faculty of Social Studies Lahore
University of Management Sciences (LUMS), underlined the need to
research on fiscal and current account issues which were big problems of
the economy. The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on
“Food Security Issues in
Pakistan.”
In the end, GCU vice chancellor proposed to launch another discussion on
the political economy of the agriculture in order to address the
questions raised by the students focusing on mismanagement of resources
and lack of will on the part of the policy makers to implement policies
in letter and spirit.
(22-12-2008)
(Courtesy: The NEWS
Lahore)
Dr. Eric Rahim delivers
lecture
on “Entrepreneur in Schumpeter’s Theory of
Development-I”
TOP
The
Economics Department organized a special lecture on “Entrepreneur in
Schumpeter’s Theory of Development-I” delivered by
Dr. Eric Rahim
of the Business School Strathclyde University, UK at the PG
Library Auditorium. Dr. Eric highlighted the Schumpeter’s Theory of
Development. The central focus of his thought provoking lecture was to
discuss the characteristics and role of an entrepreneur. Dr. Eric also
discussed the entrepreneur as a leader. He further highlighted
entrepreneurs as an innovator. He also detailed the idea of “creative
destruction”. Later, Dr. Eric answered questions put up by the students.
The program proceeding was conducted by Aqueel Imtiaz Wahga, Assistant
Link Co-coordinator, GCU-Strathclyde University Higher Education Link
(2007-09).
(31-10-2008)
GCU HOLDS SEMINAR ON
WTO NAMA NEGOTIATIONS
TOP
Dr.
Muhammad Saeed Commercial Counsellor, permanent mission of Pakistan to
the WTO, Geneva has said that multi-lateral route is the only option for
the countries like Pakistan and ambitious outcome in NAMA negotiations
are extremely important for Pakistan’s future economic growth. He was
addressing to the seminar on the issues and challenges associated with
WTO NAMA negotiations, Pakistan’s position and perspective in the
Fazl-e-Husain Reading Room of the University. The lecture was organized
by the GCU’s Economic Department.
The
guest speaker discussed in detail the Pakistan’s objective in NAMA and
apprised participants about the simple “Swiss Formula”. He said Pakistan
is peculiar on account of its export Basket concentrated in textile and
clothing. He said that ambitious NAMA outcome can promote or export
through additional market access, by reducing the existing tariff gap,
reduction of input costs and diversification of exports markets and
products. He further said that benefits of international policies can be
best reaped by pro actively adjusting our national policies.
Vice
Chancellor GCU Dr. Khalid Aftab while expressing his views on the
occasion said that ultimate success of manufacturing sector would depend
on the productivity i.e. efficiency and technological capability and we
have to ensure quality of more inputs and enhance the level of
efficiency to compete in the outside world. Dr. Khalid further said that
there is a need to perceive the challenges of post WTO era and we at GCU
are endeavoring to run short courses on market demanded discipline
studies besides degree courses. Dr. Khalid Aftab appreciated the efforts
made by the Economics department for running the WTO course.
Mr.
Inam-ul-Haq, Ms. Mehnaz Baur and Prof. Salah Uddin participated in the
panel discussion. Kinnaird College, Lahore College for Women University
and GCU economics department students attended the seminar.
Later Dr. Khalid
Aftab and Dr. Muhammad Saeed awarded certificates to the participants of
the WTO short course.
(26-04-2008)
GCU ARRANGES SPECIAL LECTURE ON WTO
TOP
The Economics
Department organised a special lecture on "WTO Challenges and
Opportunities: Policy Makers Perspective" in the seminar room of the
department.
Nasim Qureshi of the
Ministry of Textiles, the key-note speaker, made a comprehensive
presentation on the WTO historic perspective, its rules and principles
and he described in detail the role of WTO in the international trade
scenario.
Delivering his
lecture, Nasim Qureshi said that in the environment of competitiveness,
both the developed and the developing countries needed to concentrate on
quality assurance of their export goods. He also talked about the WTO
agreements and apprised the audience about the structure of the WTO. He
said, "WTO strengthens the basis of international trade and its member
countries have to accept all the multilateral trade agreements." Nasim
Qureshi further said that WTO agreements promised trade liberalisation,
integration of economies into the global trading system, removal of
tariff and non tariff barriers and easier access to markets. He also
described the current situation being faced by the Pakistani traders in
the global trade perspective.
Later, Prof
Salahuddin presented a souvenir to Nasim Qureshi.
18-03-08)
(Courtesy: The
Nation)
Invited Lecture on
“Policymaker’s Perspective on the Threats and Challenges of WTO in
Pakistan”
TOP
The Economics Department is holding a WTO Invited Lecture
on “Policymaker’s Perspective on the Threats and Challenges of WTO in
Pakistan” on March 22nd 2008. Mr. Nasim Qureshi of the
Ministry of Textiles Pakistan would be the speaker.
(20-03-2008)
Dr. Kemal
DELIVERS A LECTURE ON Trade Policy Options to Pakistan
TOP
The Economics department arranged a special lecture of
Dr. A. R. Kemal followed by question answer session. The topic of
the lecture was Trade Policy Options to Pakistan. The guest speaker
highlighted the various factors essential for the boost of country’s
exports and detailed those factors which are involved in pushing the
country’s economy at languishing position. He said that in order to
attain the higher standards in the production of goods, we need to
create a conducive business environment. He said we need to strengthen
supply capacity and establish conformity assessment infrastructure,
remove regulatory, uncertainty, consolidation of labour levies,
improving law and order situation, credible regulatory agencies and
development of export promotion zone. He further said that we need to
remove insufficiency in custom procedures and should strengthen freight,
shipping and transport infrastructure. “Pakistan still relies on a
handful of products for exports and her exports mainly are destined to
the developed world”, Dr. Kemal said and added that we have not been
able yet to explore the trading markets in Africa.
(11-02-2008)
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