ISLAMABAD:,,, The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, International Growth Center (IGC) and Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) hosted a seminar here in Islamabad on Thursday featuring Dr Sadiq Khan, Vice Chairman of the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh.

The event, organized by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jahanzeb Khan, focused on the “Development Journey of Bangladesh and Lessons Learnt for Pakistan,” says an official press release.

Distinguished participants included Dr Ijaz Nabi, Country Director IGC, Chief Economist Zafar ul Hassan, Additional Secretary Kamran Rehman, and representatives from think-tanks, economic institutions, academia’s, private sector, civil society and various Government organization.

Dr Sadiq Khan delivered a comprehensive presentation covering Bangladesh’s early challenges, including quantitative restrictions, economic deregulation, banking reforms, trade with India, sectorial policies, special bonded warehouse systems, raw material imports, and strategies for food self-sufficiency and private investments.

He emphasized the pivotal role of GDP growth, citing a remarkable average almost 6% per year from 2001 onward. Discussing Bangladesh’s inclusive growth strategy, Dr Sadiq Khan highlighted job creation, diversified agriculture, export-oriented manufacturing, and support for micro and small enterprises while commending Bangladesh’s economic strength built on strategic trade agreements and sustainable industry practices.

The Deputy Chairman Jahanzeb Khan acknowledged Pakistan’s economic challenges, including gender disparities and the need to leverage the youthful population, especially women, for economic progress. He underscored the importance of stable leadership, robust infrastructure, and unwavering focus on growth, drawing valuable lessons from Bangladesh’s success.

Addressing decision-making procedures, he outlined the Federal Government’s responsibility for the national agenda and emphasized provincial investment in human development.

Despite challenges and limited resources, he stressed the importance of focusing on economic development, women’s empowerment, and transformative policies.

Expressing gratitude to Dr Sadiq Khan for an excellent presentation, Jahanzeb Khan encouraged participants to draw lessons from Bangladesh’s experiences for Pakistan’s economic stability. He presented a souvenir to Dr Sadiq Khan as a token of appreciation.