KARACHI: The IBA Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) has launched its flagship annual publication, “The State of Pakistan’s Economy 2026–27: Stagnation to Sustainability,” at IBA’s Main Campus.
The launch brought together policymakers, academics, business leaders, development practitioners and students to discuss Pakistan’s economic challenges and possible pathways towards sustainable and inclusive growth.
The publication was reviewed by Zafar Masud, President and CEO of the Bank of Punjab, and Nadia Seth, CEO of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), who shared their views on the report and Pakistan’s economic outlook.
Speaking during the review, Zafar Masud said macroeconomic stability should translate into improved living standards, employment opportunities, stronger human capital and poverty reduction.
He highlighted the importance of effective policy implementation, innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships and productivity-led economic growth. He also described IBA’s annual State of the Economy publication as an important contribution to Pakistan’s policy debate.
Nadia Seth emphasized the need to improve SME productivity through modernization, greater formalization and improved access to financing.
She also stressed the importance of reliable and updated enterprise data to support evidence-based policymaking and better understand the challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses.
The event concluded with a shared focus on translating macroeconomic stability into sustainable, inclusive and productivity-driven growth.
Through its State of Pakistan’s Economy 2026–27 publication, CBER said it aims to support informed economic policy dialogue by bringing together research, evidence and perspectives from academia, industry and the public sector.