Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), under Research for Social Transformation and Advancement (RASTA) program, started its third RASTA conference here on Thursday.
The research moot featured diverse themes including energy issues, urban development, technology, public service delivery, social sector development, markets and regulation, the political economy of development and reform, and sludge-the administrative burden.
Inaugurating the conference, Vice-Chancellor PIDE and Chairman RAC, Dr Nadeem ul Haque stressed the need for conducting applied research saying country’s research was primarily driven by actors that are alien to our situation.
“Outsiders are driving our research, with perhaps vested agendas.” he said.
He said RASTA was a platform that provided space to local researchers to come up with innovative ideas and local solutions.
