KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Institute of Business Administration (IBA) have agreed to collaborate in policy research and formulating proposals for federal and provincial budgets.
The two institutions have agreed to collaborate in the spheres of Data-based Policy Research; Data Sharing; formulating Proposals for Monetary Policy and Federal & Provincial Budgets; Policy Advocacy; conducting Economic Surveys, etc., according to a press release on Tuesday.
Mohammad Younus Dagha, Chairman of FPCCI’s Policy Advisory Board & Dr. Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director of IBA Karachi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony attended by the press representatives at the FPCCI Headquarters, Federation House, Karachi.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, President FPCCI, said that a strong proponent of industry-academia linkages & cooperation, he has always pursued the promotion of knowledge-based economy and the MoU is a manifestation of his vision for FPCCI.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo maintained that, to him, FPCCI & IBA are natural allies as FPCCI is the apex representative business & trade body of Pakistan and IBA is one of the most prestigious business schools of Pakistan.
Mohammad Younus Dagha said that Policy Advocacy, the primary function of FPCCI, should be data-driven & evidence-based. Policy advocacy should be the primary function of FPCCI; but, it has to be grounded in hard facts to be valid, pragmatic and result-oriented.
Dagha added that an effective policy advice has to reconcile the inspirations of entrepreneurs & expectations of the society at large. He said that the Policy Advisory Board has therefore started its journey by joining hands with the academia & economic think tanks; as well as NGOs working in social sectors.
Amjad Rafi, a Senior Member of FPCCI & a Member of the Board of Governors of IBA, emphasized that business & industry should start looking towards academia & researchers for solutions to their real-world management & operational issues for indigenous, sustainable and research-based ideas; in order to contribute to socioeconomic growth & employment generation.
Dr. Akbar Zaidi said that FPCCI & IBA are old allies and, historically, IBA has always had a member from FPCCI on its board. He expressed his satisfaction that the MoU is a step forward. He added that IBA is a university now; but, its business school continues to be the most important part of it.
