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Let's Talk Development: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Consortium for Development Policy Research
The Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) and the International Growth Centre (IGC) are excited to launch their podcast series ‘Let’s Talk Development’.This is a podcast about understanding Pakistan’s crucial economic and development problems. We engage experts in exploring critical development issues and trends in Pakistan. New episodes come out every two weeks.The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CDPR or any of its affiliates.
Latest Episodes
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- 4 days ago33 min
Pollution, Health and Pakistan’s Cities
In this episode, Adnan Khan (Chief Knowledge Officer, RADS) sits down with host Zuhair Khan (Country Economist, Pakistan IGC) to discuss how pollution is quietly driving one of Pakistan's most overlooked public health crises. The conversation traces its toll from child mortality rates to overall health outcomes and the frequency of average citizen's visits to a doctor, framing environmental degradation as much an economic and public health issue as an ecological one. They also unpack Pakistan's lopsided urban geography, outlining how cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad which pack outsized populations into comparatively small footprints, intensify the downstream effects of pollution. The discussion ends with potential solutions, including rethinking how cities are planned and designed, with greater emphasis on walkability and public transport.
- 3 weeks ago41 min
Climate Change, Unequal Cities and the People Left Behind
From choking winter smog to flooded monsoon streets, Pakistan's cities are feeling the weight of a changing climate, and the poorest residents are paying the highest price. In this episode of Let's Talk Development, Dr Maryam Ibrahim, human geographer and Assistant Professor at LUMS, sits down with Dawar Hameed Butt, public policy analyst and co-founder of Climate Action Pakistan, to ask a pressing question: who are our cities really built for?Together they explore how rapid urban growth, overconcretisation and short-term fixes have left cities increasingly vulnerable to environmental shocks. They discuss why climate change is often used to deflect responsibility, why data rarely shapes decisions, and why real accountability is still missing. It's a candid conversation about what it will take to build cities that are fair, livable and ready for the climate crisis.
- Aug 20, 202641 min
Beyond Aid: Rethinking Development in Pakistan
As the era of abundant foreign aid comes to an end, developing countries are being forced to rethink how development is financed and delivered. In this episode of Let's Talk Development, Dr. Umair Javed sits down with development anthropologist Dr. Muhammad Ali to unpack the changing global aid architecture, the politics behind shrinking donor support, and what these shifts mean for Pakistan. Together, they examine the promises and pitfalls of aid, its impact on state capacity and knowledge production, and what needs to be done to contend with this new era of dwindling aid.
- Jul 3, 202643 min
Land Rights for Women: The Promise and the Paradox
Drawing on IGC’s new research, Dr. Sabrin Baig discusses how digitising land records in Punjab increased women's access to inherited land, while also reshaping marriage decisions, education investments, and family dynamics. This conversation in our upcoming episode of Let’s Talk Development explores the complex relationship between legal reform, social norms, and women's economic empowerment.
- Apr 29, 20261h 0m
Justice Ayesha Malik on Rule of Law, Governance and True Cost of Weak Enforcement
Drawing on IGC’s new research, Dr. Sabrin Beg (Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Delaware) and Ms. Angbeen Mirza (Assistant Professor of Law at LUMS) discuss how digitising land records in Punjab increased women's access to inherited land while also reshaping marriage decisions, education investments, and family dynamics. This conversation also explores the complex relationship between legal reform, social norms, and women's economic empowerment.
- Mar 31, 202635 min
More Than Marks: What Education Owes the Next Generation
In this episode of Let’s Talk Development, Ayesha Hussain (Educationist and Author) sits down with Dr. Syed Turab Hussain (Economist, Educator and Principal of Aitchison College) to discuss one of the most important questions of our time: is education in Pakistan keeping up with the fast-evolving world?From the overemphasis on grades in classrooms across Pakistan to the quiet erosion of deep thinking, Dr. Hussain draws on his extensive teaching experience at institutions like LUMS, and now heading Aitchison College, to make a compelling case for returning to the basics: critical thinking, strong writing and, above all, building character. The conversation also explores where AI fits in, and where it does not, why good teachers remain irreplaceable and what it will take to prepare Pakistan’s younger generation for a rapidly shifting world.
- Mar 27, 20261h 1m
The Future of Agriculture in Pakistan: What Really Drives Change
This episode discusses how Climate change is impacting Pakistan's agricultural and what steps can Pakistan take to navigate this challenge.
- Feb 23, 202647 min
The Knowledge Deficit: Rethinking Progress with Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy
In this episode Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy joins Dr. Ijaz Nabi to explore the roots of Pakistan’s current economic and social challenges. Moving beyond fiscal policy, Dr. Pervez argues that the real barriers to progress lie in our culture, education system and collective mindset as a society. He draws comparisons with India, Bangladesh and China to highlight how societies that value science, hard work and equality have managed to transform their future, while Pakistan remains trapped in cycles of poor governance, weak education and misplaced priorities. From the collapse of higher education to the lack of work ethic and scientific curiosity, the conversation assesses what it would take to realign Pakistan’s path toward meaningful development. At its heart lies a simple but urgent question: can a nation rise without investing in knowledge, truth and learning?
About Let's Talk Development
The Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) and the International Growth Centre (IGC) are excited to launch their podcast series ‘Let’s Talk Development’.This is a podcast about understanding Pakistan’s crucial economic and development problems. We engage experts in exploring critical development issues and trends in Pakistan. New episodes come out every two weeks.The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CDPR or any of its affiliates.
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