ISLAMABAD APR 10 (DNA) \u2014 As the digital era reshapes economies around the globe, Pakistan is envisioning a new growth trajectory built on innovation, inclusion, and digital empowerment. This vision takes center stage at the 38th Annual Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE), organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), under the bold theme \u201cURAAN Pakistan: Growth Through Digital Transformation.\u201d
\nScheduled from April 15 to 17, 2025, at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, the conference will bring together economists, technologists, policymakers, and global thought leaders to explore how Pakistan can harness digital transformation to unlock human potential, increase productivity, and set course toward a trillion-dollar economy by 2035.
\nRooted in a vision of reform and innovation, the conference builds on the continued efforts of Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives. His leadership has been instrumental in championing digital inclusion, knowledge-driven development, and institutional reform\u2014principles that now form the backbone of the URAAN framework.
\nSpeaking on the urgency of the moment, Dr. Nadeem Javaid, Vice Chancellor of PIDE and President of PSDE, emphasized that Pakistan stands at a critical inflection point. \u201cOnce, the symbol of progress was the rising chimney of a factory. Today, it\u2019s a glowing screen in the palm of a dreamer. With just a smartphone, a data signal, and an idea, the world opens up\u2014and so does Pakistan\u2019s future,\u201d he said. \u201cDigital transformation is no longer a choice\u2014it\u2019s the runway from where Pakistan must take off.
\nURAAN Pakistan is our call to lift off\u2014to imagine a country where a coder in Gilgit, an entrepreneur in Layyah, and a data scientist in Karachi aren\u2019t working in silos, but shaping the same digital destiny. At the 38th PSDE Conference, we are not just exploring digital tools. We are charting a bold new development story\u2014one that begins with connectivity and ends with opportunity for all.\u201d
\nKey highlights of PSDE 38 include keynote addresses from three globally renowned speakers\u2014Nobel Laureates Michael Spence, Pier Paolo Saviotti, and Muhammad J. Sear\u2014whose insights will lend international perspective to Pakistan\u2019s digital ambitions. Over three days, the event will host six high-level panel discussions featuring both national and international leaders, along with the presentation of 45 technical papers addressing critical areas of digital development, economics, and inclusive policy design.
\nThe conference is structured around three main objectives. First, accelerating digital transformation by exploring policies to digitize governance, enable smart infrastructure, and grow Pakistan\u2019s digital economy. Second, adapting global insights to the local context, particularly in areas such as AI-based innovation, digital public goods, and data governance.
\nFinally, the conference places a strong emphasis on inclusive growth, advocating for youth, women, and underserved communities to be at the core of Pakistan\u2019s digital future\u2014ensuring no one is left behind. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD APR 10 (DNA) \u2014 As the digital era reshapes economies around the globe, Pakistan is envisioning a new growth trajectory built on innovation, inclusion, and digital empowerment. This vision takes center stage at the 38th Annual Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE), organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-471764","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n