Islamabad (GNP): Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) launched its 2026 Internship Cohort in Islamabad, beginning with an orientation session and a five-day training program for university students and recent graduates from fields including economics, public policy, data science, management sciences, and IT.
At the opening session, PIDE Vice Chancellor and Planning Commission Member Dr. Nadeem Javaid connected the internship initiative to Pakistan’s broader economic vision under URAAN Pakistan, which aims to build a trillion-dollar economy by 2035. He said Pakistan is at a critical juncture, facing challenges such as a growing youth population, weak export performance, limited human capital development, climate vulnerability, energy shortages, social inequality, inconsistent policymaking, and fiscal strain — issues he said require evidence-based, people-focused policy solutions.
Dr. Javaid described Pakistan’s development challenges as extending beyond economics into what he called a human development emergency. He noted that nations investing in education, skills development, population planning, women’s workforce participation, and export competitiveness have advanced more rapidly, while Pakistan’s comparatively weak education outcomes continue to hold back its growth. He encouraged the incoming interns to engage critically with policy issues and contribute ideas that could support national reform, better governance, and meaningful policy outcomes.
Selection Process and Cohort Details
Dr. Faheem Jehangir, Dean of Policy Advocacy, said the 2026 internship program drew strong interest nationally and internationally, receiving 4,883 applications. After a selection process that included 14 interview panels, 278 candidates were shortlisted, with 140 ultimately chosen for placements across 14 research centers, technical departments, and PSDP-funded projects. The selected cohort includes students from 62 universities, representing all provinces and regions of Pakistan — including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Federal Area, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan — along with some participants from abroad.
Leadership Addresses Interns
The orientation also featured remarks from several senior PIDE officials, including Professor and Registrar Dr. Nasir Iqbal, Dean of Academics Dr. Karim Khan, Dean of Research Dr. Shujaat Farooq, Executive Director of the Centre of Excellence for CPEC Dr. Syed Hasanat Shah, and Executive Development Centre Director Dr. Nadeem Ahmed Khan. These speakers walked interns through PIDE’s institutional structure, covering its research, academic, policy advocacy, outreach, CPEC-related work, and professional training programs. PIDE leadership underscored that well-informed ideas lead to stronger policies, which in turn contribute to a more sustainable future for the country.
Through the program, PIDE aims to connect young talent with real-world policy challenges, expose interns to evidence-based research practices, and help them build the analytical, writing, communication, and professional skills needed to contribute meaningfully to Pakistan’s development sector.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
