BIPP's Annual Report 2021

Today, on 2nd December 2021, the launching ceremony of the BIPP's 14th Annual Report, "The State of the Economy: Changing World- Pakistan Reset" was held at The Lahore Chamber Commerce and Industries (LCCI). Mr. Noman Kabir, the President of LCCI presided over the event which was attended by eminent scholars, researchers, members of the academia, and prominent citizens. Lt Gen. (Retd) Gulam Mustafa, the renowned analyst and Prof. Dr. Javed Akram Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences provided their invaluable appraisal of the Annual Report. Following the welcome and the opening remarks by Mr. Shahid Najam, the Vice Chairman BIPP, an overview of the thematic areas of the ten chapters of the report was presented by Mr. Shahid Javed Burki, the Chairman BIPP. Dr. Farrukh Iqbal the former Executive Director of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi provided an appraisal of the economy and while dwelling on the major challenges of current account deficit, balance of payment, enormous debt burden and the rising incidence of inflation, noted that with the macro-economic measures being pursued by the government and the commendable management of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are visible signs for the positive growth of the economy in the long run. Ms. Aiman Adnan research fellow, BIPP thereafter presented the gist and key findings and recommendations of the report. This was followed by an active Q & A session. The launch ceremony came to a close with remarks of gratitude by the President of LCCI. It may be added that BIPP in its Report ?The State of the Economy: Changing World -Pakistan Reset? has provided an objective overview of the economic situation of Pakistan and the pathway ahead in the wake of geo strategic/geo political and geo economic dynamic in the region and pursuant to the consecutive waves of the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights the need for Pakistan to ?Reset? to be able to respond effectively to the emerging challenges both nationally and globally given its geo-strategic location. The major issues covered by the report include: the evolving situation in Afghanistan and possible repercussions for Pakistan, the state of S&T governance in the country, the rising trade deficit, agriculture-food-health nexus, significance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor and the COVID-19 pandemic impact on economic and social sectors including a fundamental shift in the traditional context of decision- making and management.