From Stabilisation to Growth: Pakistan’s Long-Term Reform Agenda | ABF–LUMS

[_NOBODY_]

From Stabilisation to Growth: Pakistan’s Long-Term Reform Agenda | ABF–LUMS



What will it take to turn economic stabilisation into sustained growth in Pakistan?

Watch the full session, “From Stabilisation to Growth: Pakistan’s Long-Term Reform Agenda,” organised jointly by the American Business Forum (ABF) and LUMS on October 24, 2026.

Moderated by Dr. Ali Hasanain, Associate Professor of Economics at LUMS, the discussion features Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue; Dr. Reza Baqir, former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan; Mr. Salman Burney, Vice Chairman of Habib Group, and Ms. Halima Iqbal, Founder and CEO of Oraan. Together, they bring perspectives from government, central banking, industry, and fintech to explore the reforms and choices shaping Pakistan’s economic future.

 

[kambhakt]

25 Years of Premature Victory: Pakistan’s Never-Ending Stabilization Loop I Nadeem Ul Haque

 

[Meengla]

Among the few bright spots in Pakistan's governence is the State Bank of Pakistan. In this interesting video, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Mr. Jameel Ahmad--a highly competent professional-- goes through some facts and figures. A few points:
1- On average, other than the politically motivated (and destructive!) high growth rates, Pakistan's economy over the last 30 years has grown at only about 3.2-3.5%
2- In last 1-2 years, Pakistan has been around the same rate as the average but maybe slightly higher at 3.7% and he is confident soon it will be a bit higher.
3- Impact of the war on Iran on Pakistan's economy.
4-Brain Drain/ worker flight: The peak was in 2015 and it is less now than before and even lesser when factor in more educated/skilled Pakistanis.
5- The Remittances increases has a lot to do with money coming in through proper channels because the incentives for illegal/Hundi system has been much reduced.
6- Current Account Deficit was $17 billion dollars just a few years ago and now down to 1% or even less!

 

[Asif]

Remittances can increase further if only Pakistanis can have local schools in GCC. Most of the Pakistanis send their kids to British schools and in the absence of Pakistani schools or branch/campuses of big paksitani schools like there are for Indian schools, all the pakistani children go to local/foreign British schools.

As a comparison, in Qatar, the most expensive indian schools following indian board is 22k but the cheapest British school would be 25k for primary.
Similarly, no doctor, engineer, IT professional etc, would send his kid to the pakistani school in Qatar, teaching federal board. In UAE the branch of a pakistani school is charging the same as other British schools.
Granted our neighbours have a gr8 givernment school system and we need a decade to reach there but even for the British system, pak government and embassy initiative and support to bring names like City school, Beaconhouse, etc. can help the overall remittances.

 

[c14-Isotope]

25 Years of Premature Victory: Pakistan’s Never-Ending Stabilization Loop I Nadeem Ul Haque

It's comical

https://nadeemulhaque.substack.com/p/25-years-of-premature-victory-pakistans

 

[SaadH]

All these abstract discussions are yet another exercise in futility without getting the mil-establishment on board and without their sponsorship which is currently occupied maintaining the dysfunctional status quo nothing will change.