Karachi, A seminar hosted by the Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives, International Growth Center (IGC), and Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) in Islamabad today spotlighted the economic development journey of Bangladesh, offering crucial lessons for Pakistan. The event, featuring Dr. Sadiq Khan, Vice Chairman of the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh, was organized to dissect the strategies that fueled Bangladesh’s impressive growth and to explore how these can be adapted to Pakistan’s context.

According to Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives, Dr. Sadiq Khan provided an in-depth presentation on Bangladesh’s development trajectory, covering key areas such as economic deregulation, banking reforms, and trade policies. He underscored the country’s remarkable GDP growth, which averaged nearly 6% annually since 2001, and highlighted Bangladesh’s successful inclusive growth strategy that focused on job creation, diversified agriculture, and export-oriented manufacturing.

The seminar, organized by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jahanzeb Khan, drew participants from diverse sectors, including think-tanks, academia, and government organizations. The discussion also addressed Pakistan’s economic challenges, such as gender disparities and the untapped potential of its young population, particularly women. Deputy Chairman Khan emphasized the need for stable leadership and robust infrastructure to replicate Bangladesh’s successful model in Pakistan.

The event concluded with Deputy Chairman Khan expressing his appreciation for Dr. Sadiq’s insightful presentation and urging the attendees to apply the lessons learned from Bangladesh’s experience to bolster Pakistan’s economic stability. He presented a souvenir to Dr. Sadiq Khan as a gesture of gratitude for his valuable contribution to the seminar.