Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad

What Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad does

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), headquartered in Islamabad, Pakistan, is an autonomous, not-for-profit civil society organization founded circa 1979/1980 and dedicated to promoting policy-oriented research and informed public discourse on national and international issues. It operates as a Pakistani think tank with a research portfolio spanning Pakistan affairs (economy, energy, education, politics, society, security), international relations (Pakistan and its neighbors, the Muslim world, globalization, global issues), and faith and society (Islamic thought, Islam and the West, madrassa education). Its primary beneficiaries are Pakistani policymakers, government officials, academia, the scholarly community, civil society, and the general public.

IPS delivers its work through a portfolio of interconnected products and programs: IPS Press (the publishing and bookselling arm producing books, e-books, and periodicals including Policy Perspectives, Maghrib aur Islam, Nuqta-e-Nazar, and IPS News), IPS TV (a YouTube-based video platform hosting recorded seminars and lectures), Perspectives (the IPS blog), Research Publications (policy briefs, insights, and reports), IPS LEAD (a human development initiative including The Living Scripts oral history project and the Kamyab Zindagi lecture series), IPS Library, and an active program of seminars, conferences, roundtables, and academic exchange events. Technology under delivery is standard web/digital infrastructure (website, YouTube, blog, e-store) with no proprietary AI or advanced technology platform.

The organization's revenue model is consistent with a civil society think tank rather than a commercial enterprise: funding derives from a mix of book and periodical sales through IPS Press and its distributor network, institutional sponsorship (Corporate Member and Sponsor/Member programs), donations via the 'Join Hands with IPS' and 'Friends of IPS' channels, and likely grants or project support. Pricing information is not applicable as IPS does not sell commercial products or services. Governance is provided by a Chairman (Khalid Rahman), Vice Chairman (Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain), Patron-in-Chief, and a National Advisory Council, with the founding Chairman being Prof. Khurshid Ahmad. IPS maintains no parent company and operates independently.

Name

Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad

Legal name

Institute of Policy Studies

Website

https://ips.org.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) is a non-profit civil society think tank in Islamabad, Pakistan, founded circa 1979/1980, producing policy-oriented research, publications, and seminars on Pakistan affairs, international relations, and faith and society for policymakers, academia, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Islamabad

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) is an autonomous, not-for-profit civil society organization that conducts policy-oriented research on national and international issues, including Pakistan affairs (economy, energy, education, politics, security), international relations, and faith and society. It disseminates this research through publications (books, journals such as Policy Perspectives, policy briefs and reports via its publishing arm IPS Press), an online video platform (IPS TV), seminars and conferences, and human development programmes such as IPS LEAD.

Product overview

Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad operates as a policy research think tank with a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offerings include IPS TV (video content platform), IPS Press (publishing division producing books, journals, and e-books), and Research Publications (policy briefs, insights, and reports). Supporting these are IPS LEAD (human development programs including The Living Scripts oral history project), an Events program (seminars, conferences, roundtables), and IPS Library. IPS Press publishes periodicals such as Policy Perspectives journal, Maghrib aur Islam, and Nuqta-e-Nazar. The organization functions as an autonomous civil society organization dedicated to promoting policy-oriented research and providing a forum for informed discussion on national and international issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IPS Press: Publishing and bookselling arm of Institute of Policy Studies, publishing books, periodicals, e-books, and maintaining IPS Library.
• IPS TV
• Perspectives
• IPS LEAD
• Policy Perspectives
• Kamyab Zindagi

Products and services

• IPS Press Publishing and bookselling arm of IPS that publishes books, periodicals, e-books and the IPS Annual Report, and operates the IPS Press E-Store (press.ips.org.pk) for customers.
• IPS TV IPS's video content platform and YouTube channel featuring recorded seminars, conferences, lectures and discussions on policy topics for public and academic audiences.
• Policy Perspectives (Journal) Peer-reviewed periodical journal published by IPS Press covering policy analysis on national and international issues, targeted at academic and policy audiences.
• Research Publications (Policy Briefs, Insights, Reports) Research outputs in the form of policy briefs, insights, and reports on Pakistan affairs (economy, energy, education, politics, society, security), international relations, and faith and society.
• IPS LEAD (Human Development Program) Human development initiative of IPS featuring The Living Scripts oral history project, lectures, and youth engagement programmes such as the Kamyab Zindagi lecture series.
• Events (Seminars, Conferences, Roundtables) Programme of seminars, conferences, roundtables, sessions and academic exchange events at national and international levels covering policy topics.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Iqbal Academy PakistanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2024Signed MoU between IPS and Iqbal Academy Pakistan, Government of Pakistan
• Al-Mustafa Int'l University, IranminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023IPS inked MoU with Al-Mustafa Int'l University for knowledge sharing between Pakistan and Iran
• Inovation Asia Pvt. LtdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Collaboration agreement for joint venture in ICT-based solutions for governance
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPS conducted a joint workshop with ICRC on humanitarian journalism focusing on principles of impartiality, dignity and non-discrimination
• Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on conference regarding Waqf and Zakat reform, and joint international seminar on The Role of Religions in Fostering Peace, Harmony, and Justice
• University of Management and Technology (UMT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized international seminar on The Role of Religions in Fostering Peace, Harmony, and Justice
• International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MoU for intellectual independence and policy resilience through indigenous research; collaborated on multiple events including Waqf and Zakat conference
• National University of Modern Languages (NUML)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegations from NUML visited IPS to explore collaboration areas in Islamic Thought and Culture
• Balochistan Rural Support Program (BRSP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRSP delegation visited IPS to discuss interfaith harmony, youth engagement, and indigenous knowledge initiatives
• Defence Export Promotion Bureau (DEPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly organized international seminar on Emerging Geo-Political Environment and the Threat of Grey Hybrid Conflict: Pakistan's Perspective as part of IDEAS 2018
• Kashmir Working GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative focused on Kashmir advocacy and research
• Youth Association of Pakistan (YAP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on youth engagement initiatives and Kashmir Solidarity events
• Youth Diplomacy Forum (YDF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly organized Kashmir Solidarity and Voices of Youth event
• Youth Forum for Kashmir (YFK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Kashmir Solidarity and Voices of Youth session
• Kazan Federal University, RussiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly organized 1st Pakistani-Russian International Conference on evolving Pakistan-Russia relationship
• Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized 1st Pakistani-Russian International Conference with Kazan Federal University

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Global policy think tank producing research across economics, foreign policy, and society. Comparable to IPS in mission (evidence-based policy research and convening) but operates at vastly greater scale, geographic reach, and funding base.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based international affairs think tank publishing research and convening policy dialogue. Comparable to IPS in research-publication-plus-events model, especially IPS's international relations work.
• International Crisis Group: Global organization working to prevent wars and shape policy on conflict-affected states. Comparable to IPS in producing analysis on Pakistan's geopolitical environment and security policy, though at much greater international scale.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global think tank producing independent research on international affairs and geopolitics. Comparable to IPS in its focus on international relations, security, and convening policy discussions with scholars and diplomats.

Regional players

• Lahore School of Economics: Pakistan-based academic and policy research institution that produces applied economic research. Comparable to IPS as a domestically-rooted research entity producing policy-relevant outputs, though primarily academic in orientation.

Direct peers

• Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI): Think tank focused on foreign policy, security, and strategic studies in Pakistan. Overlaps with IPS's international relations and security research streams and serves similar policymaker and academic audiences.
• Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE): Pakistan's premier economic policy research institute, conducting research and publishing policy papers on Pakistan's economy. Comparable to IPS in its research-think-tank model targeting government and academia.
• Institute for Policy Reforms (IPR): Islamabad-based independent policy think tank producing research and recommendations on Pakistan's economic and governance reforms — directly comparable to IPS in mandate and stakeholder focus.
• Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI): Islamabad-based policy think tank focused on sustainable development research and policy advice in Pakistan — the closest domestic peer to IPS in terms of mission, structure, and audience (policymakers, academia, civil society).
• Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA): Karachi-based research institute studying international relations and foreign policy. Comparable to IPS in its focus on international affairs research, publication of journals, and convening policy events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ipstv
• Facebookfacebook.com/InstituteOfPolicyStudiesPakistan
• Xx.com/IPS_1979
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ips-islamabad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad