Pakistan's Agenda for Economic Reforms

Providing a non-technical understanding of poor economic growth and performance of the public sector in Pakistan relative to that of peer countries, Vaqar Ahmed's Pakistan's Agenda for Economic Reforms serves as an interesting introduction to policymakers, journalists, and civil society organizations interested in carrying out research and advocacy work as part of their social accountability efforts and attempts to improve economic governance in the country. Delving one step ahead from recent literature on Pakistan's economy, the author focuses on why reform of institutions dealing with economic policy regulation and management is imperative, while simultaneously speculating issues underlying the past decade, and identifying key areas of improvement and pending structural reforms that Pakistan's economy could pursue for inclusive growth and social justice. Exploring the fragmented structure of energy governance, public expenditure management, trade, transit, and the labor market, this book serves as an important resource for readers wishing to have an understanding of economic challenges and reform options.

Vaqar Ahmed is the Deputy Executive Director at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). Earlier, he has served at UNDP as Advisor, and has undertaken assignments with Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and Ministries of Finance, Planning, and Commerce in Pakistan. Between 2009 and 2011, he was the Head of Macroeconomics Section in Planning Commission of Pakistan, which is responsible for the formulation of annual, medium, and perspective development programmes. He remained the technical associate and member of the task forces, constituted by the Government of Pakistan, including Advisory Panel of Economists (2008), Task Force on Private Sector Development (2009), Working Group on Macroeconomic Framework for Tenth Five Year Plan 2010-15, and Working Group on Social Sector Development for Pakistan Vision 2025.