After Colonialism: Rethinking Development, Knowledge & Governance in Pakistan | Haque Economics

Описание: Pakistan’s development challenges are often discussed in terms of policy failures or weak institutions — but many of today’s problems run deeper, rooted in ideas, systems, and structures inherited from the colonial era.

In this episode of SIA Discussions, Dr. Nadeem ul Haque is joined by Sauleha Kamal and Usama Javed Mirza for a wide-ranging conversation on what development looks like after colonialism.

The discussion explores how colonial legacies continue to shape Pakistan’s education system, research culture, language policies, and governance frameworks — often privileging technocratic solutions while sidelining local knowledge, political realities, and lived experience. The panel reflects on how development thinking can move beyond inherited models by integrating indigenous perspectives, improving institutional empathy, and balancing technical expertise with democratic politics.

Rather than offering quick fixes, this conversation focuses on long-term thinking: how Pakistan can build development systems that are locally grounded, socially inclusive, and better aligned with its own realities. The episode offers a reflective, forward-looking perspective for students, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in Pakistan’s future beyond inherited frameworks.

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Speakers

Dr. Nadeem ul Haque
Economist and public policy expert; Director of Socio-Economic Insights & Analysis (SIA). Former Vice Chancellor of PIDE and former Senior Economist at the IMF. His work focuses on governance reform, institutional performance, and rethinking development approaches in Pakistan.

Sauleha Kamal
Development researcher whose work engages with education, research culture, and knowledge systems in Pakistan. Her research emphasizes how institutional design, language, and historical legacies shape professional environments and development outcomes.

Usama Javed Mirza
Policy researcher and development practitioner with interests in governance, political economy, and institutional reform. His work examines the interaction between technocratic policy solutions and political processes in addressing development challenges.
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Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
01:47 – Decolonizing Science, Knowledge & Empathy
11:50 – Rethinking Research in Pakistan
22:56 – Colonial Language Policies and Their Legacy
30:34 – Debating Pakistan’s Development Paths
42:58 – Governance and Pakistan’s Future
52:32 – Culture, Identity, and Development Thinking
01:01:48 – Structural Challenges and Practical Solutions
01:13:33 – Political vs Technocratic Approaches
01:20:12 – Balancing Expertise and Politics

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