Policymakers must adopt growth-oriented strategy including export diversification, investment climate and productivity As Pakistan approaches 2026, economic stability has become a central theme in policy discussions. Recent data show that consumer price inflation declined to 5.6 per cent in December 2025 after exceeding 30 per cent during 2023. This reduction followed strict monetary tightening and fiscal adjustment measures. While easing inflation has reduced immediate pressure on the economy, Pakistan’s economic history clearly shows that stability alone has never ensured sustained growth, employment generation or long-term development. During fiscal year 2024–25, Pakistan’s gross domestic product grew by approximately 3.0 per cent.…
Author: Dr. Irfan Zeb Khaskhelly
Innovation thrives where academia, industry and government work in alignment for development Innovation is no longer a luxury but a necessity for nations seeking sustained economic growth and global relevance. In an era defined by rapid technological change, countries that fail to innovate risk economic stagnation and declining competitiveness. Universities are traditionally viewed as centres of knowledge creation, while industries serve as engines that transform ideas into products, services and jobs. In theory, a close relationship between academia and industry creates a dynamic innovation ecosystem. In practice, however, many developing economies, including Pakistan, suffer from a widening disconnect between lecture…
Pakistan must adopt innovation driven growth to rebuild textile exports and regain global competitiveness Pakistan’s textile sector has long served as the backbone of the national economy, contributing nearly 55 to 60 percent of the country’s exports and providing employment to more than 10 million people. Despite its scale and significance, the sector has been unable to match global competitiveness due to rising energy costs, outdated machinery, increasing price pressures, and limited value addition. While Pakistan remains one of the world’s largest cotton producers, the real challenge lies not in production capacity but in the absence of innovation-driven growth. Without…