This major research study launched by the Lahore School of Economics in 2016, coordinated by GIDS and conducted together with Economics Faculty, is visualized as a long-term research project which will build-up a body of knowledge and analysis into the last five hundred years of Pakistan’s economic history starting from the eve of the Mughal Period to the creation of Pakistan and its over seventy years history. An important part of the project is to build-up a knowledge and data base by collecting historical publications (or their re-prints) covering this overall period as well as build-up a statistical data base on key economic indications (population, GDP, agriculture, industry, services, human development indicators, trade).

Economic History Society has also been revived as a part of the project. The first meeting of the Economic History Society was held on 12th January, 2019. Two working papers, “The Economics History of Pakistan since Mughals, 1520-2020: An Outline” by Dr. Rashid Amjad and “British Administration in Agrarian Punjab: order versus transformation (1849-1906)” by Maham Hameed have been published in 2019.

The outputs of this project will include books, monographs and working papers to be published by the Lahore School of Economics:

Main Researchers: Dr. Rashid Amjad (Co-ordinator), Dr. Naved Hamid, Dr. Azam Chaudhry, Dr. Fareeha Zafar, Dr. Shahnaz Rouse (Visiting Faculty), Dr. Khalil Hamdani (Visiting Faculty), Dr. Zafar Shaheed (Visiting Faculty).

Assisted by: Ms. Maham Hameed.

The Economic History of Pakistan since the Mughals, 1520-2020: An Outline
by Rashid Amjad

Working Paper 01-2019, EHPS, Lahore School of Economics.

British Administration in Agrarian Punjab (1849-1906): order versus transformation
by Maham Hameed

Working Paper 02-2019, EHPS, Lahore School of Economics.

The State of Lahore under Colonialism: A Political Economic Analysis
by Shahnaz Rouse

Working Paper 03-2019, EHPS, Lahore School of Economics.

Gender research areas:

  1. Gender roles in economic and social relations and the impact on development
  2. The gendered impact of economic changes on labour market opportunities and inequalities in access to economic resources
  3. Patriarchy, culture and violence
  4. Analysis of policies and institutions on women’s empowerment.

New IMF-Pakistan agreement likely to have adverse impact on women

Published in brettonwoodsproject.org on December 09, 2021

UNHCR pays tribute to men who support women and raise voices for their rights

Published in unhcr.org on December 10, 2021

Pakistan sees rise in gender-based violence during COVID-19

By Fatima Khan
Published in The News on December 06, 2021

Seminar to create awareness on gender-based violence held

Published in The News on December 12, 2021

Women make up 82 percent of unbanked population in Pakistan

Published in The News on December 05, 2021

Women’s Participation in Politics in Pakistan

GIDS Working Paper No. 06-21

By Fareeha Zafar Anum Sami

Why Pakistani companies ought to disclose data on women in the corporate workforce

By Usman Hayat
Published in DAWN on December 23, 2021

Breaking through the judicial glass ceiling

By Hasnaat Malik
Published in The Express Tribune on January 09, 2022

Give a woman a small loan, a family will eat for a lifetime

By Yusra Salim
Published in The Express Tribune on January 02, 2022

‘History made’: Lawmakers, journalists rejoice as Justice Ayesha Malik becomes first female SC judge

Published in DAWN on January 24, 2022

World Bank calls for more reforms to improve legal equality for women in Pakistan

By Amin Ahmed
Published in DAWN on March 03, 2022

Where is the Aurat March heading?

By Afiya S. Zia
Published in DAWN on March 07,  2022

Reshaping Norms: A New Way Forward

Read the full report here

The world is becoming coloured and less Christian

By Shahid Javed Burki
Published in The Express Tribune on April 25, 2022

THE MAJOR ISSUE OF MINOR MARRIAGES

By Naeem Sahoutara
Published in DAWN on July 10, 2022

Dear Pakistani women: you are not welcome

By Dr Izza Aftab
Published in The News on July 25, 2022

Mapping the conditions of women and children in Pakistan

By Mahnaz Rahman
Published in The News on August 14, 2022

Revisiting the Suffrage Movement in America and Britain

Pakistan ranks 142 out of 146 countries in WEF’s global gender gap report

Decoding Goldin’s Nobel for Pakistan

South Asia’s first gender bond launched

The Centre on International Migration, Remittances and Diaspora (CIMRAD) was established in 2014 by the Lahore School of Economics and is the first institute of its kind in Pakistan. The Centre specializes in the study and analysis of international migration and its social and economic consequences –with a focus on the diaspora and the flow of remittances.

According to the estimates of the United Nations in 2013, there were 232 million international migrants. Between the years 1990 and 2013, the number of international migrants increased by more than 50% (an increase of 77 million migrants), with most of this growth having occurred between 2000 and 2010. Pakistan is a net emigration country and is listed amongst the top five net emigration countries in the world. Total remittances to developing countries are estimated at US $405 billion in 2013, outweigh the total development assistance and in fact are much greater than foreign direct investment to developing countries (excluding China.) In view of their increasing importance, it is vital to identify and suggest policy measures aimed at maximizing these inflows through official channels and make best use of them for economic development. According to the World Bank, international migrants from developing countries are expected to send an estimated US $436billion to their home countries in 2014. Pakistan received an amount of $15 billion as remittances in the year 2013 which are equivalent to over 6% of its GDP in 2013. These were contributed by the strong and dispersed Pakistani diaspora, estimated to be 7 million according to the Government of Pakistan but may well be much higher. The Pakistani diaspora increases the demand for Pakistani goods worldwide—from exports ranging from basic local fruits to high end clothing brands to media content. While remittances can be beneficial to a country, international migrants can create a loss of skilled labor for their home country. For their host countries, migrants can create cultural tensions or face labor exploitation. These complex social, economic, and cultural issues will all be explored through the lens of CIMRAD’s research.

This research draws on the Lahore School of Economics fifteen annual conferences on “Management of the Pakistan Economy” and its recent publication “Pakistan: Moving the Economy Forward” (OUP, 2015) as well as recent research to come up with a fresh and updated publication on the Pakistan economy which takes as a starting point the earlier widely read and quoted, Viqar Ahmed and Rashid Amjad, “The Management of Pakistan’s Economy 1947-1982 (Oxford University Press, 1984).

Lead Researcher: Dr. Rashid Amjad.

Assisted by: Ms. Almazia Shahzad.

WB approves over $440m for water, sanitation services in Punjab

By Amin Ahmed
Published in DAWN on June 21, 2021

Why is the IMF so unpopular?

By Usman Hayat
Published in DAWN on July 14, 2021

Country’s internet penetration stands at 54%

Published in The Express Tribune on July 30, 2021

Alarm bells ringing as trade deficit hits $3.058bn in July

Published in DAWN on  August 3,  2021

IMF approves $650bn to boost global economy

Published in DAWN on August 04, 2021

The Global Informal Workforce: Priorities for Inclusive Growth
IMF-ILO HIGH-LEVEL EVENT AND IMF BOOK LAUNCH

Published in International Monetary Fund 

Exchange rate stability is a challenge

By Mohiuddin Aazim
Published in DAWN on August 09, 2021

State Bank of Pakistan reserves hit all-time high of $20.15b

Published in The Express Tribune on September 03, 2021

Joblessness jumped in 2018-19: labour survey

By Nasir Jamal
Published in Dawn on September 17, 2021

Pakistan’s growth expected to ease to 3.4pc: WB

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in DAWN on October 08, 2021

Give-and-take parleys with IMF under way

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in DAWN on October 09, 2021

Largest external debt stocks: Pakistan among top 10 countries

Published in The News on October 12, 2021

IMF sees Pakistan’s fiscal indicators improving

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in Dawn, October 14, 2021

$51.6 bn external financing required in two years

Published in The News on October 19, 2021

Industrial employment jumped 112pc to 2.34m in 10 years from 2005: survey

By Mubarak Zeb Khan
Published in Dawn, October 22, 2021

Pakistan needs long-term reform for reviving exports: World Bank

By Amin Ahmed
Published in DAWN on October 29, 2021

Finance ministry warns of higher inflation

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in DAWN on October 29, 2021

Economy to grow by around 5pc in FY2022: Reza Baqir

Published in The News on October 30, 2021

Matters with IMF ‘settled’, agreement to be signed this week, says Tarin

By Tahir Sherani
Published in DAWN on November 01, 2021

Is Pakistan’s public debt sustainable?

By Usman Hayat
Published in Dawn, November 03, 2021

Economic inclusion of women: nothing will change until we do

By Mohsen Siddiqui
Published in The Express Tribune, November 08, 2021

Don’t let IMF, WB give dictation: US economist

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on November 18, 2021

Pakistan: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2021 Article IV Mission and Staff-Level Agreement on the Sixth Review under the Extended Fund Facility

 

Published in International Monetary Fund on November 21, 2021

Pakistani startups attract $300m in global investments

Published in The Express Tribune on December 09, 2021

FDI rises 12pc to $798m in July-November

Published in DAWN on December 18, 2021

Revised strategic trade policy framework projects $57bn exports by FY25

By Mubarak Zeb Khan
Published in DAWN on December 22, 2021

Mini budget: a bitter bill to swallow

Published in DAWN on January 01, 2022

Had negotiated much better deal with IMF in 2019, says Younus Dagha

By Mehtab Haider
Published in DAWN on January 02, 2022

The unicorns are here and it’s time to invest in our tech infrastructure

By Ammar H. Khan
Published in Pakistan today on January 02, 2022

2021 — the year when Pakistani startups saw an unprecedented growth spurt

By Mutaher Khan | Natasha Uderani
Published in DAWN on January 03, 2022

SBP Act changes won’t cause ‘state within state’

By Salman Siddiqui
Published in The Express Tribune on January 08, 2022

Growing inequality worries businesses

By Afshan Subohi
Published in DAWN on January 12, 2022

Growing financing needs: Pakistan may have to seek new IMF loan

By Mehtab Haider
Published in DAWN on January 18, 2022

Economists Pin More Blame on Tech for Rising Inequality

By Steve Lohr
Published in The New York Times on January 11, 2022

Land grab or river revival? Inside $7 billion Ravi city project

Published in The News on January 20, 2022

Change of Base Year & its Impact on Key Economic Indicators

Read More

Govt revises up FY21 growth rate to 5.4pc, GDP to $347bn

By Mubarak Zeb Khan
Published in DAWN on January 21, 2022

More than 90pc students across Pakistan underachieving in maths and science: study

Published in The News on January 21, 2022

Govt in violation of debt reduction law, cabinet told

By Shahbaz Rana
Published in The Express Tribune on January 26, 2022

Local democracy or elected despotism?

By Ali Cheema
Published in DAWN on January 31, 2022

IMF Executive Board Concludes 2021 Article IV Consultation for Pakistan and Completes the Sixth Review of the Extended Fund Facility

By Antoinette M. Sayeh
Published in imf.org on February 02, 2022

IMF okays 6th review, ready to release $1bn tranche

By Anwar Iqbal
Published in DAWN on February 03, 2022

Without structural reforms, CPEC won’t yield results, says ADB

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in DAWN on February 03, 2022

Rupee posts biggest rise over dollar in a month

By Shahid Iqbal
Published in DAWN on February 04, 2022

Is politics calling the economic shots?

By Afshan Subohi
Published in DAWN on January 31, 2022

No need for another IMF package with 6% growth

Published in DAWN on February 03, 2022

Accord signed with China for industrial cooperation

By Amin Ahmed
Published in DAWN on February 05, 2022

Financial system for all but the illicit

By Dr Reza Baqir
Published in DAWN on February 19, 2022

New leaks unmask wealth parked at Swiss bank

By Umar Cheema
Published in The News on February 21, 2022

Pakistan heading towards record $20bn deficit mark

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on February 28, 2022

Kaushik Basu: India is facing ‘gated stagflation’

By Abhinav Singh
Published in The week on February 27, 2022

PM Imran announces industrial package, says govt will remove all obstacles for SMEs

Published in DAWN on March 01, 2022

War in Ukraine: Crisis is unleashing ‘hell on earth’ for food prices

By Tom Kavanagh
Published in bbc.com on March 08, 2022

SBP keeps policy rate unchanged

By Shahid Iqbal
Published in DAWN on March 09, 2022

Yawning gap in estimates: IMF, Pakistan talks hit stalemate

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on March 25, 2022

How Pakistan’s Central Bank Has Created Political Chaos

By Steve H. Hanke
Published in nationalreview.com on April 08, 2022

PM inherited bad economy, but leaves it in even worse shape: Atif Mian

Published in geo.tv on April 10, 2022

Shaukat Tarin responds to Atif Mian, lists PTI achievements

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on April 13, 2022

Pakistan exports its first SUV class vehicle

Published in The Express Tribune on May 14, 2022

With 6% growth rate, Pakistan’s economic size jumps to $383 billion

By Shahbaz Rana
Published in The Express Tribune on May 19, 2022

Shadow economy accounts for 40% of GDP

By Shahram Haq
Published in The Express Tribune on June 02, 2022

IMF outlines guidelines to revive loan programme

By Shahbaz Rana
Published in The Express Tribune on June 01, 2022

Trade deficit swells to record $43.3bn

By Mubarak Zeb Khan
Published in DAWN on Jun 03, 2022

Budget Strategy Paper for 2022-23 to 2024-25: Strategy envisages slowing down of GDP growth

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on June 20, 2022

Winning back the Fund – and the people

By Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri
Published in The News on June 23, 2022

Global economic outlook has ‘darkened significantly’: IMF

Published in DAWN on July 13, 2022

After clinching deal with IMF, Pakistan plans to generate around $10bn in loans

By Mehtab Haider
Published in DAWN on July 15, 2022

Pakistan has completed last prior action for review: IMF

By Tahir Sherani
Published in DAWN on August 2, 2022

Is the rupee too weak to recover?

By Mohiuddin Aazim
Published in DAWN on July 25, 2022

Is the rupee too weak to recover?

By Mohiuddin Aazim
Published in DAWN on Julu 25, 2022

IMF money may arrive in Pakistan’s account by August-end

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in DAWN on August 13, 2022

Dar to ask IMF to revise macroeconomic framework

Published in The News on October 06, 2022

WHERE DOES PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY GO FROM HERE?

By Khurram Husain
Published in DAWN on October 16, 2022

More than half of all healthcare spending ‘out of pocket’

By Mubarak Zeb Khan
Published in DAWN on November 08, 2022

‘Green Alliance’ to revolutionise agri-sector, cement Pak-US bonds: Masood Khan

Published in The News on November 21, 2022

Pakistan projected to be among largest economies in the world by 2075: Goldman Sachs

By Muhammad Omer Hayat
Published in DAWN on December 07, 2022

Differences with IMF on external needs, power losses persist

Published in The News on February 09, 2023

Why Pakistan is IMF’s most loyal customer

By Murtaza Syed
Published in The News on February 16, 2023

Tax the rich, help the poor, IMF advises Pakistan

Published in The Express Tribune on February 20, 2023

Pakistan to miss wheat production target, again

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on March 11, 2023

Indus Waters Treaty under threat: Part – I

By Shafqat Kakakhel
Published in The News on March 12, 2023

Why Pakistan faces a persistent economic crisis?

By Dr Golam Rasul
Published in Pakistan Today on April 02, 2023

How To End Pakistan’s Dangerous Current Account Deficits

By Murtaza Syed
Published in Dissent Today on March 31, 2023

Loans required urgently to avert public debt crisis: World Bank

By Shahbaz Rana
Published in The Express Tribune on April 04, 2023

Navigating unchartered territory

By Afshan Subohi
Published in Dawn on April 10, 2023

At 90pc, census data shows ‘dip’ in Karachi’s population

By Imran Ayub
Published in Dawn on April 11, 2023

Pakistan may need to find alternative financing sources

Published in The Express Tribune on April 12, 2023

Pakistan in breach of all fiscal targets

By Shahbaz Rana
Published in The Express Tribune on April 13, 2023

ECONOMY: PAKISTAN’S STORY OF DEBT

By Nadeem Hussain
Published in Dawn on December 18, 2022

Pakistan may need to find alternative financing sources

Published in The Express Tribune on April 12, 2023

Economic, political uncertainty worsens poverty outlook in Pakistan: report

By Amin Ahmed
Published in Dawn on April 16, 2023

IMF struggles to find trustworthy partners

By Salman Siddiqui
Published in The Express Tribune on April 20, 2023

WEF Future of Jobs Report 2023: Pakistan workforce adapts to new opportunities, technological disruption

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on May 04, 2023

Economic slowdown triggers massive unemployment

By Aamir Shafaat Khan
Published in Dawn on May 07, 2023

Reviewing Pakistan’s climate action

By Shafqat Kakakhel
Published in The News on May 11, 2023

Over 246.5m people counted across Pakistan as census set to conclude

Published in Dawn on May 15, 2023

Rupee hits all-time low against dollar amid demand-supply gap

By Salman Siddiqui
Published in The Express Tribune on May 23, 2023

Pakistan’s GDP contracts to 0.29pc in FY23

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on May 25, 2023

Rupee’s real value is around Rs 240/$, says Dar

Published in The Express Tribune on June 08, 2023

Economic Survey 2022-23: Report card of a tempestuous year

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in Dawn on June 09, 2023

NA approves IMF-dictated budget FY24

By Waqar Satti
Published in The News on June 25, 2023

New tax measures to hit builders, developers and fertiliser sales

By Mubarak Zeb Khan
Published in Dawn on June 27, 2023

IMF deal not a ‘silver bullet’, says Shehbaz

By Zulqernain Tahir
Published in Dawn on July 02, 2023

AI in education: need for digital literacy

By Zahra Mughis
Published in The News on July 31, 2023

Will this IMF lifeline be any different from the others?

By Faraz Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune on July 31, 2023

Gulf nations poised to invest billions in Pakistan: US media report

Published in The News on August 11, 2023

Interim setup picks pro-liberal policies duo

By Shahbaz Rana
Published in The Express Tribune on August 18, 2023

Over $5b received for project financing, building reserves

By Shahbaz Rana
Published in The Express Tribune on August 22, 2023

‘Pak debt is relatively small as compared to the size of economy’

By Hassan Abbas
Published in Business Recorder on August 24, 2023

High living cost pushing more people into poverty: ADB

By Amin Ahmed
Published in Dawn on August 28, 2023

Ministry identifies 10 key risks to economy

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on September 02, 2023

Understanding Pakistan’s Poly-Crisis – And Navigating a Path Forward

By Sakib Sherani

IMF says PSDP projects cost in FY23 exceeds budget by 14 times

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on September 19, 2023

Pakistan’s economy on edge of precipice, warns World Bank

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in Dawn on September 23, 2023

Govt considers imposing taxes on agriculture, retail, real estate sectors

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on October 01, 2023

Pervez Tahir: A tryst with economic justice

By Rashid Amjad
Published in Express Tribune on October 06, 2023

World Bank urges Pakistan to eliminate tax exemptions

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in DAWN on October 10, 2023

IMF expects faster economic recovery in optimistic outlook

By Khaleeq Kiani
Published in DAWN on October 11, 2023

Rising food, energy prices drive surge in poverty across Pakistan: World Bank

By Amin Ahmed
Published in DAWN on October 20, 2023

Pakistan wins initial IMF approval to unlock $700m tranche under SBA

Published in The News on November 15, 2023

Govt post-polls: Businesses see IMF, SIFC holding key to better future

By Salman Siddiqui
Published in The Express Tribune on February 05, 2024

How bad is country’s debt crisis and can the IMF save it?

Published in The Express Tribune on February 14, 2024

Political instability can mar IMF programme: Fitch

Published in The Express Tribune on February 19, 2024

BISP successful in mitigating poverty: WB

By Amin Ahmed
Published in Dawn on March 03, 2024

Govt gets room to ‘manage’ exchange rate as IMF looks the other way

By Shahid Iqbal
Published in Dawn on March 10, 2024

Pakistan to make request for fresh IMF package next month

By Mehtab Haider
Published in The News on March 17, 2024