Vaqar Ahmed 

Dr Vaqar Ahmed is a former civil servant and currently Joint Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). Earlier, he has served UNDP, and has undertaken assignments with Asian Development Bank, World Bank Group, and Ministries of Finance, Planning and Commerce in Pakistan. He has held advisory roles in provincial governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  

He is also the honorary Research Fellow at Partnership for Economic Policy, Canada, and Steering Committee Member for Southern Voice. He served as a visiting faculty member and researcher in different international institutes, including the University of Laval in Canada, University of Le Havre in France, National University of Ireland, Pakistan’s Quaid-i-Azam University, and National School of Public Policy. He was recipient of 2015 Young Leaders Fellowship award by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

He continues to publish on various aspects of international trade, public finance, and private sector competitiveness. He is the author of “Pakistan’s Agenda for Economic Reforms” (OUP, 2018). He is convenor of Pakistan’s National Network for Economic Think Tanks. His political economy commentary can be seen on Arab News and PTV World.  

He has also served on various boards and committees including at Fauji Foundation, Pakistan’s Planning Commission, Punjab Urban Unit, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment & Trade, National Skills University, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries.