Islamabad The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has released a game-changing report titled the “PIDE Reform Manifesto,” which is based on the Institute’s research over the last four years, as well as various conferences, seminars, and consultative meetings. This manifesto is more than just a document; it is a visionary roadmap poised to revolutionize Pakistan’s economic landscape and societal fabric. The manifesto, which delves into the core imperative of achieving significant reforms, is a compelling call to action for a better future, crafting a narrative of development and transformation in the heart of Islamabad. This pioneering program exemplifies PIDE’s dedication to generating positive change by providing a strategic guide for policymakers and stakeholders to manage the complexity and usher in a new era.
The ceremony’s principal guest, Caretaker Federal Minister of Information Murtaza Solangi, confirmed that the next elections would take place. Minister Solangi reassured the people that all assumptions and rumors surrounding the elections had been addressed, resulting in a transparent and credible voting process.
Minister Solangi emphasized the importance of the election platform, citing key areas such as the economy, foreign policy, education, and health. He emphasized the necessity of free discourse on basic issues and called for increasing collective consciousness among the people. Addressing issues such as population increase, he emphasized the importance of containing the demographic boom.
Minister Solangi also advocated for democratic attitudes within political parties, claiming that cultivating such ideals is critical to the country’s future. With a positive tone, he expressed confidence that these communal efforts will result in solutions to the nation’s real challenges.
In his introductory remarks, Dr. Nadeem ul Haque, Vice Chancellor Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), stated that Pakistan’s economic woes persist despite 24 IMF programs, putting the country on the verge of default and caught in a cycle of current account and budget deficits. Excessive government regulation, notably from a bureaucratic system inherited from colonial times, stifles the formal market, with the government’s involvement estimated at 64% of the economy. Additionally, a regulatory cost of up to 45% of GDP limits investment options. The democratic system, founded on colonial ideology, contributes to unsustainable debt levels and a patronage-driven political landscape that confuses local and national interests. Antiquated institutions, resisting reform, repel talent and impede adaptation to the new global economic environment.
Despite these problems, Pakistan’s young population is eager for change. Dr. Haque’s suggested profound reforms call for a total revamp of governance structures, including the bureaucracy, judiciary, and democratic systems, in order to fully realize the promise of the twenty-first century. This revolutionary vision highlights the need of efficient markets, talent development, and the country’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances. However, resistance from entrenched colonial systems, as well as a lack of policy and reform competence, continue to fuel the crisis narrative. The call to action encourages political parties, the media, and civil society to engage in discussions about these reforms, recognizing that a continuous process of learning and evolution is required for Pakistan to break free from its colonial legacy and navigate towards long-term growth.
Dr. Durre Nayab, Pro Vice Chancellor of PIDE, emphasized Pakistan’s major problems, highlighting the need for sustained and increased economic growth to meet changing demographics and manage the growing debt burden. According to PIDE forecasts, the demographic bulge is expected to last until 2056, necessitating the creation of over two million additional jobs each year over the following thirty years. Dr. Nayab underlined that meeting this need requires reaching and maintaining an annual economic growth rate of well above 7%. She emphasized the practicality of such lofty ambitions, citing India’s successful track record of sustained growth over the last two decades. According to PIDE’s research, supporting the necessary growth requires a comprehensive strategy of profound reforms. Dr. Nayab has also raised worry.
In a forthright statement, Dr. Ahmed Waqar Qasim, Senior Research Economist PIDE, underlined the considerable obstacles created by Pakistan’s civil bureaucracy, which operates under a colonial structure. He highlighted the outmoded character of bureaucratic structures and policy procedures, expressing concern about their inability to adequately address the complexities of the current world.
Dr. Qasim also highlighted the bureaucratic impediments to growth, innovation, and development. Unnecessary regulatory burdens, dead capital, and policy control impede progress, resulting in a management system hostile to professionalization and modernization. He questioned the outmoded human resource management system, which prioritizes seniority over accomplishments and performance while retaining archaic training and compensation schemes. The colonial habit of attaching posts to material benefits such as houses, automobiles, and plots provides insufficient incentives for performance, resulting in a talent drain from the public sector. Dr. Qasim advocated for immediate reforms to match the management system with the demands of the twenty-first century, emphasizing merit-based evaluations and eliminating outmoded methods that prevent genuine talent from contributing effectively to the public sector.
The PIDE Team provided critical insights. A recent report paints a bleak picture of Pakistan’s economic woes, highlighting the country’s continuous struggle to stabilize its economy despite participating in 24 International Monetary Fund (IMF) initiatives. The document describes a worrisome investment climate marked by excessive and unnecessary government regulation, which has effectively impeded the formal market and elevated the informal sector as the principal source of economic opportunity.
Addressing the historical context, the manifesto delves into the enduring colonial-era bureaucracy, estimating that government influence accounts for approximately 64% of the economy. This bureaucratic overreach, along with regulatory costs equal to 45% of GDP, has been damaging to investment and overall economic growth.
The research also provides insight into Pakistan’s political structure, which has grown around patronage rather than philosophy. This approach not only leads to unsustainable debt levels, but it also confuses local politics with national ambitions, affecting governance and public investment.
The manifesto focuses on the negative impact of the current governance structure on talent retention, emphasizing the loss of innovative and entrepreneurial abilities to other lands. It contends that international aid and financing institutions have aggravated the problem by portraying Pakistan as a modernized economy, stifling spontaneous thought and research.
The manifesto presents a vision for the future that calls for a complete overhaul of the governing system, including reforms to the bureaucracy, judiciary, and democratic processes. The goal is to create an atmosphere that fosters talent and allows markets to work more effectively, exploiting Pakistan’s young populace.
Looking ahead, the Manifesto advocates for a radical reevaluation of policymaking, governance, and business practices, emphasizing the importance of a continual reform process driven by learning and evolution to address Pakistan’s long-standing social and economic problems.
The paper finishes by asking political parties, the media, and civil society to actively participate in discussions about these proposed reforms. It emphasizes the significance of accepting change as a societal norm in order to pave the path for a more affluent and sustainable future for Pakistan.
The event functioned as a convergence point for a varied variety of stakeholders, bringing together policymakers, practitioners, professionals, the business community, private-sector investors, analysts, academics, researchers, policy experts, and youth representative.
