Experts at a major development economics conference in Karachi warned that rising temperatures and electricity prices are disproportionately impacting the poor in South Asia. The three-day “Educational and Policy Conference on Development Economics” held at LUMS brought together global economists and policymakers to discuss key obstacles to development in the region.
The conference addressed critical issues such as inequality, governance, gender equality, healthcare, education, climate change, and energy. Discussions emphasized the dangers of the dual burden of rising heat and electricity costs on low-income groups. Improved information sharing was deemed crucial for promoting female labor force participation. Education and healthcare were also highlighted as essential for social progress.
The gathering, co-hosted by international institutions like BREAD, IDEAS, IGC, CDPR, CERP, MHRC, the Chaudhry Nazar Mohammad Department of Economics, and IDS at the University of Sussex, also featured a mentorship scheme connecting South Asian researchers with established experts. Policymakers and specialists collaborated to find practical solutions to the challenges discussed. Notable participants included Hamid Atiq Sarwar (FBR), Aamna Lalah Azhar (NCSW), and Ahmed Khan (PSDF).
CERP President Maroof A. Syed, emphasizing the importance of aligning policy debates with ground realities, stated that progress is impossible without a holistic approach to issues like inequality, governance, gender, healthcare, and education within the context of climate change.
University College London Professor Dr. Imran Rasul suggested that directly supporting institutions, rather than solely supporting workers within social protection schemes, is more effective. He argued that while employees are more directly affected, their adaptability enables faster recovery.
University of East Anglia’s Dr. Shahriar Banuri delivered the Chaudhry Nazar Mohammad Distinguished Lecture on corruption, emphasizing the need to view corruption not merely as an individual act but within a broader framework of institutions, incentives, and social values.
The conference concluded with a commitment to developing research-based policies to address taxation, public service delivery, women’s empowerment, and environmental concerns, aiming for sustainable and equitable development for all.