PIDE Focus Vol. 1, No. 3, August-September 2006

Mr Muhammad Mian Soomro, Chairman, Senate of Pakistan visited PIDE on August 24, 2006. Dr Nadeem Ul Haque, Director PIDE, welcoming the chief guest said that we are extremely grateful to Chairman Senate, Mr Muhammad Mian Soomro for his visit to the PIDE. It is very important that politicians have started taking interest in think tanks like the PIDE. He said that Mr Soomro is a well-known banker and he restructured the National Bank of Pakistan as head of the organisation and now he is a successful leading politician. Addressing the faculty of PIDE, the Chairman said that the formulation of strong economic strategies at the institutional level is a must to further improve the country’s economic situation. He continued that besides the public sector, leading think tanks of the country must play their due role in research and national policy formation. He added that the role played by the social scientists is imperative for the resolution of key social and economic issues. The chairman further said that institutes like the PIDE can play an important role in designing strategies for the economic prosperity of the country. Concluding the address the Chairman said that interaction between the professionals working in the economic sector and the parliamentarians is essential for creating an understanding in the preparation and implementation of economic strategies. He also stressed the need for collaboration between the Senate and the PIDE on its research agenda.