Karachi: The School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi organized the 3rd Annual International Conference on ‘Challenging Linearity’. The three-day conference commenced on November 16 and concludes on November 18, with an aim to challenge linear thinking in Pakistan across various sectors through rigorous research.
The second day of the conference commenced with an engaging discussion on ‘Cultivating Inclusivity: Women in Economics,’ moderated by Dr. Asma Hyder, Professor and Dean, School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS). Panelists included Ratna Sahay, Professor, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi; Dr. Hadia Majid, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Economics, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS); Dr. Aliya Khan, Professor, Quaid-i-Azam University; and Sundus Saleemi, Senior Researcher (Development Research), University of Bonn. They stressed upon the need to ensure women empowerment in the different sectors of society and highlighted various problems related to it.
Mr. Jameel Ahmad, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), delivered a keynote speech, addressing ‘Macroeconomic Challenges and the Way Forward.’ He highlighted the significance of monetary policy in controlling inflation and managing expectations. Mr. Ahmad emphasized SBP’s current consideration of supply-side inflation while making decisions regarding monetary policy and interest rates.
In collaboration with the World Bank, the conference hosted an award distribution ceremony for a competition centered on the theme ‘Poverty Through Your Eyes.’ This competition received 300 nominations from youth aged 16 to 25. A panel of 17 judges meticulously selected seven winners across various categories of creative work. Each winner was awarded a cash prize of PKR 5,000 along with a participation certificate.
The second day included two keynote speeches, two panel discussions emphasizing women’s inclusivity in Economics and Urban Mental Health (UMH), eight technical sessions, two literary cafes, and one roundtable discussion, followed by a cultural night where musicians from Bhit Shah performed Sufi Music.
The third and final day of the conference features panel discussions focusing on complex economics datasets and cultural dynamics in Indonesia, a doctoral symposium, a distinguished lecture on Colonialism and Decolonization, and a prize distribution ceremony.
