Academia Session for Policy Debate under the URAAN Pakistan

The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MoPD&SI) is actively steering Pakistan toward becoming a trillion-dollar economy by 2035, guided by its visionary 5Es Framework and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–2029). Under the leadership of Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Prof.  Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, this agenda emphasizes innovation, youth development, creativity, and public-private collaboration to achieve inclusive growth.

The three-day national conference commenced with a keynote address by Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who highlighted the transformative role of creative and cultural industries in shaping Pakistan’s global competitiveness. The Academia Session, held on Wednesday, July 30th, 2025, at the Marriott Hotel, Karachi, focused on aligning educational innovation with national policy objectives.

As part of this strategy, Asif Z. Warsi, Focal Person – Young Peace and Development Corps (YPDC) and the Green Youth Movement (GYM), Institute of Business Management (IoBM), under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Tariq R. Soomro, Rector, IoBM, to participate in the Academia Session for Policy Debate of the Creative Industry and Culture Economy Conference under the URAAN Pakistan initiative. The session brought together academic leaders and policy experts to discuss the evolving role of academia in national policy development and the growth of the creative industry. This initiative directly supports Pakistan’s commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Key Highlights proposed by Asif Z. Warsi:

1. Specialized Training & Capacity Building

• Emphasized the need for short, targeted academic programs and Training of Trainers (ToT) initiatives to build scalable institutional capacity and empower youth.

2. Lessons from China’s Development Model

• Cited China’s transformation under Deng Xiaoping (1978–1989) as a relevant benchmark:
  • Real GDP in 1980: $430 billion
  • Introduction of “One country, two systems”, enabling market-oriented reforms.
  • Launch of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) such as Shenzhen, now a global tech hub, along with a total of 18 zones introduced.
  • Initiation of the 863 Program to foster science and technology.
  • Implementation of nine-year compulsory education to enhance national literacy.

3. Labor Force Participation (LFP) Gaps

• Highlighted Pakistan’s low female LFP and the need for inclusive workforce policies:
  • Female: 25% | Male: 83% | Total: 55%
• Compared to China’s LFP rates:
  • Female: 70% | Male: 79% | Total: 75%
• Called for structural reforms to bridge gender gaps and maximize human capital.

Policy Recommendations:

• Develop specialized academic programs in creative industries, innovation, and entrepreneurship aligned with emerging market needs.
• Expand ToT programs to build a scalable and sustainable skill development ecosystem.
• Adopt a national “Reform and Opening Up” strategy to modernize education and industrial frameworks.
• Strengthen governance through anti-corruption efforts, poverty alleviation, and inclusive political reforms.
• Invest in research and development (R&D) using international best practices to drive innovation and economic growth.