BOSTON / ISLAMABAD — In a strategic move to transition towards a data-driven welfare economy, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, met with Prof. Iqbal Dhaliwal, the Global Executive Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). The high-level meeting focused on exploring a robust institutional collaboration aimed at introducing evidence-based policymaking to tackle poverty, enhance human development, and accelerate inclusive growth across Pakistan.

J-PAL, a globally acclaimed research center centered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), partners with governments in low- and middle-income nations to scientifically evaluate, design, and scale up effective socio-economic policies that measurably improve livelihoods.

Driving Growth via Human Capital

Aligning the discussions with the government’s flagship “URAAN Pakistan” roadmap—a strategic vision aimed at scaling the country’s economy to $1 trillion by 2035—Minister Ahsan Iqbal reiterated that sustainable development cannot be achieved without structural overhauls in core social sectors. He underlined education, healthcare, and effective population management as the absolute prerequisites for long-term poverty alleviation.

“Under the fifth pillar of URAAN Pakistan—Equity, Ethics, and Empowerment—human capital development remains one of the government’s foremost priorities,” the Minister emphasized during the meeting.

Overhauling Social Safety Nets

As part of the collaborative framework, the Minister floated the proposal for an independent, rigorous evaluation of Pakistan’s premier social safety net, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The initiative aims to leverage J-PAL’s global expertise to assess the program’s efficiency and scientifically determine how effectively it helps its beneficiaries graduate sustainably out of poverty.