Rethinking Pakistan's Development Strategy: A Comprehensive Legal and Economic Approach

Pakistani American Bar Association
Pakistan Club

March 6, 2009: 6:30 PM - 9:15 PM

The war or terror is centered in Pakistan now. The disastrous possibility of Pakistan falling into the hands of the fundamentalists cannot be ruled out. Why have we come to this dangerous pass? Can anything be done to avert this catastrophe? Answers to these questions need serious consideration. Change is needed in how all stakeholders perceive the problem of Pakistan. Most analysts, policymakers and donors continue to stress the failures of the past-- political choice of illiberal democracy or dictatorship and the economic strategy of donor led and funded quick-fix growth strategies and programs. These failed policies have produced a dysfunctional state and markets controlled by rentseeking mafias and deeply divided society. These failed policies have created space for fundamentalists to perform state functions of providing justice and welfare. If fundamentalism is to be defeated and globalization and modernity is to be accepted, a new approach must be developed that seeks to understand the political economy of Pakistan to develop ‘reform’ at every level to build a better state, market and society. This reform must not be led or envisaged by donors. Instead it must be inclusive of all segments of society, domestically owned and driven by civil society.

Where

Gleacher Center
Room 100
450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, Illinois

Cost

No Charge

Registration

Register Online

Deadline: 3/6/2009

Speaker Profiles

Dr. Nadeem Ul Haque (Speaker)
Division Chief, IMF Institute - Asian region

Nadeem Ul Haque (Ph.D Chicago (1986)), a widely published Pakistani economist has had extensive experience in international development policy and academics. He has held several positions in international agencies including the IMF, the World Bank, and the International Food Policy Research Institute. His areas of research include capital flight, growth and development, corruption and governance, and brain drain. Most recently, in his capacity as Trade Policy Advisor to the Minister of commerce in Pakistan and Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, he introduced a far-reaching reform programs in those agencies and developed significant policy debates. He has written extensively on several aspects of Pakistan such and is a well known opinion-maker there. He also had a significant impact on policy as IMF Resident Representative in Egypt and Sri Lanka.

Questions

Ammar Rizki 
Chicago Booth Pakistan Club - VP Marketing
312.906.9718