BIPP's 17th Annual Report 2024 "The State of the Economy: Beyond the Horizons: The Frontier of Emerging Technologies" launch ceremony at University of Engineering and Technology(UET) Lahore.

On 26th December 2024, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (UET), Lahore hosted the launch ceremony of BIPP's 17th Annual Report, of the Shahid Javed Burki Institute of Public Policy at NetSol (BIPP) titled "The State of the Economy: Beyond the Horizons: The Frontier of Emerging Technologies" at its premises. Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir, the Vice Chancellor (VC), UET presided over the event which was attended by eminent scholars, technology experts, members of the academia, scholars and researchers, representatives of government and prominent citizens. Mr. Rana Sikandar Hayat, Minister of Higher Education Punjab graced the occasion as a Chief Guest. Dr. Muhammad Nizamuddin (Pro-Rector Superior University) participated as commentators and provided invaluable feedback on the Report. Following the welcome address by Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir VC, UET, and the opening remarks by Mr. Shahid Najam Vice Chairman BIPP, an overview of the main theme of the Report “Beyond the Horizons: The Frontier of Emerging Technologies” was presented by Mr. Shahid Javed Burki, the Chairman BIPP. He enlightens the audience about the potential of emerging technologies for Pakistan to leverage its young population in developing its economy and Pakistan’s technological underdevelopment through its historical context, emphasizing path dependence. Dr. Farrukh Iqbal, the former Executive Director of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi gave an objective assessment of the economy dwelling on the causes of precarious economic conditions marked by unsustainable levels of external and total debt recurrent reserves crises, and suggested an orderly debt relief and restructuring program and critical fiscal adjustments and reforms and the privatization of large loss-making state-owned enterprises. Mr. Firas Shams Research Fellow, BIPP thereafter presented the gist of the key findings and recommendations of the report covering the economic challenges, sustainable development, and AI-driven reforms in various sectors like governance and public sector management, education, healthcare, commerce and trade and democratic elections. This was followed by an active Q & A session. Mr. Rana Sikandar Hayat, the chief guest, in his address underscored the need for technological advancement in Pakistan. The launch ceremony came to a close with remarks of gratitude by Dr. Ejaz Sandhu, Acting Director BIPP.