Pakistan Institute of Development Economics

What Pakistan Institute of Development Economics does

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), established in 1957 and headquartered in Islamabad, is Pakistan's oldest and most prestigious government-owned economic policy think tank operating under the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiative. The institution operates two academic schools (PIDE School of Economics and PIDE School of Policy, Development and Governance) offering PhD, MPhil, MSc, and MS programs in Economics, Econometrics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Management Sciences, and Public Health. PIDE also operates eight specialized Research Centers (CITDE, CEMDA, MPL, CSBA, CGMRA, CACCE, CSF, CELI) producing over 3,000 research publications, the Pakistan Development Review journal, and national longitudinal datasets including the Pakistan Rural Household Survey.

PIDE's revenue model is dominated by government funding from the Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Planning and the Higher Education Commission, supplemented by competitive research grants (including RASTA with the Planning Commission), executive training and consultancy through the Executive Development Center (EDC), and academic tuition. The institution maintains strategic partnerships with multilateral organizations including the World Bank, ADB, UNDP, UNICEF, IDRC, ILO, GIZ, and DFID for collaborative research and depository library arrangements. PIDE's technology infrastructure includes the MAKTAB SAP-based ERP and Student Lifecycle Management system, Blackboard LMS, SPSS/STATA for statistical analysis, and ArcView GIS for spatial research, supported by a Gigabit Ethernet LAN with 500+ nodes.

The institution's customer base is concentrated in federal and provincial government entities (Planning Commission, Election Commission, Government of Balochistan), multilateral development organizations, graduate students, and public/private sector professionals seeking executive training. PIDE disseminates research through conferences (38 annual PSDE conferences since 1984), webinars, digital publication repositories (RePEc), and a multi-platform digital presence. Its go-to-market motion is event-driven and relationship-based, leveraging thought leadership through policy dialogues, roundtables, and direct government engagement rather than commercial sales channels.

Name

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics

Legal name

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics

Website

https://pide.org.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), founded in 1957 and government-owned, is Pakistan's oldest economic policy think tank. It offers graduate degrees, operates eight research centers, delivers policy advisory and executive training services, and conducts over 3,000 research publications for government and multilateral clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research & Economic Education

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Strategy, Consulting & General Management Institutes (EDAHAHAI)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Economic research
• Development economics
• Graduate economics education
• Executive training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Islamabad

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: PIDE receives core institutional funding from the Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiative, and support from the Higher Education Commission (HEC). This constitutes the primary revenue stream sustaining research, academic operations, and institutional administration.
2. Research Grants & Project Funding: PIDE secures external research funding through competitive grants programs including RASTA (PIDE & Planning Commission Competitive Research Grants Programme), and project collaborations with international development partners such as World Bank, ADB, UNDP, UNICEF, IDRC, GIZ, ILO, and DFID. Funding supports targeted research initiatives, training programs, and capacity-building activities.
3. Executive Training & Consultancy (EDC): The Executive Development Center (EDC) generates revenue through tailored training programs, certification courses, executive education, consultancy engagements, and talent acquisition services for government, private, and non-profit sectors.
4. Academic Tuition & Fees: Revenue from postgraduate and doctoral programs (PhD, MPhil, MSc, MS) including tuition fees and related academic charges. Programs include Economics, Econometrics, Environmental Economics, Economics & Finance, Business Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Management Sciences, and Public Health.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) is Pakistan's oldest and most prestigious think tank, delivering policy research, evidence-based advisory services, and graduate-level academic degree programs (PhD, MPhil, MSc, MS) in Economics, Econometrics, Public Policy, Development Studies, and Management Sciences. The institute operates eight specialized Research Centers and an Executive Development Center (EDC) offering tailored training, consultancy, and certification services to government, private, and non-profit sectors.

Product overview

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) is an academic research institution and think tank established in 1957, offering degree programs (PhD, MPhil, MSc) in Economics, Econometrics, Environmental Economics, Economics & Finance, Business Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Management Sciences, and Public Health. PIDE operates through two academic schools (School of Economics and School of Policy, Development and Governance), eight specialized research centers (CITDE, CEMDA, MPL, CSBA, CGMRA, CACCE/ACCRE, CSF, CELI), and multiple institutional units including RASTA (research grants program), PSDE (professional economists association), The Pakistan Development Review (academic journal), the Executive Development Center (professional training), and an ICT Division supporting digital infrastructure. The institution does not offer a unified software product or platform but rather provides academic programs, research outputs, policy advocacy services, and training programs to government, academia, and development sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RASTA: PIDE & Planning Commission Competitive Research Grants programme - Pakistan's largest economics and public policy research grants programme to strengthen evidence-based policymaking
• PSDE
• PIDE School of Economics (PSE)
• PIDE School of Policy, Development and Governance (PSPDG)
• Executive Development Center (EDC)
• Pakistan Development Review (PDR)
• MacroPolicy Lab (MPL)

Products and services

• Graduate Degree Programs (PhD, MPhil, MSc, MS)
• Policy Research & Advisory Services
• Executive Development Center (EDC) Training & Consultancy
• RASTA Research Grants Programme
• Pakistan Development Review (PDR) Journal
• PSDE Annual International Conferences

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 annual international conferences organized by PSDE since 1984
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982PSDE, established in 1982, is Pakistan's leading professional association of economists and social scientists, hosted by PIDE. Since 1984, PSDE has organised 38 annual international conferences providing a premier platform for rigorous academic exchange and policy dialogue between researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and development partners.
• RASTA (Research and Advocacy for Sustainable Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRASTA is Pakistan's largest economics and public policy research grants programme, jointly operated by PIDE and the Planning Commission of Pakistan. The programme funds competitive research to strengthen evidence-based policymaking across the country.
• World BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE collaborates with the World Bank on research projects, survey data processing, and institutional data management. PIDE has processed datasets for World Bank-supported surveys and collaborates under initiatives like the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE Library is designated as an ADB Depository Library. PIDE collaborates with ADB on research and data support activities, contributing to economic research on development issues relevant to Pakistan and the region.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE collaborates with UNDP on research initiatives, contributing analytical expertise to development policy discussions and capacity-building programs in Pakistan.
• United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE conducts research under the PIDE-UNICEF Multi-year Research Program, focusing on child welfare, development challenges, and socio-economic policy issues.
• International Development Research Centre (IDRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE Library is designated as an IDRC Depository Library. PIDE collaborates with IDRC on development research projects and knowledge-sharing activities.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE Library is designated as an ILO Depository Library. PIDE collaborates with ILO on labour market research, employment policy analysis, and related socio-economic development studies.
• World Bank Group / DFIDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE collaborates with DFID (now FCDO) on survey data processing for collaborative research projects supporting development policy analysis in Pakistan.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE provides consultancy services under a GIZ-funded project supporting the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division (MoPASS) for Enhanced Service Delivery, including IT systems analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and proposal development.
• Islamic Relief PakistanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE collaborated with Islamic Relief Pakistan on a project for formulation of AJK Climate Change Policy and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy, conducting research and preparing policy documents for Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
• Quaid-i-Azam UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE is located on the Quaid-i-Azam University Campus in Islamabad, fostering academic collaboration and shared research infrastructure between the two institutions.
• Tsinghua UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDE and Tsinghua University have engaged in dialogue exploring economic solutions for Pakistan, indicating collaborative research discussions on development economics.
• Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPIDE conducted training programs for Election Commission of Pakistan officials on strategic approaches to policy decision making.
• Government of BalochistanminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPIDE conducted PCI & PCII preparation training and PC-1 & PC-2 training programs for officials of the Government of Balochistan.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi: Major Pakistani business school offering graduate programs and executive education with applied economics research. Comparable to PIDE's School of Economics as a Pakistani institution offering postgraduate economics and business education.

Direct peers

• Centre for Policy Research (CPR) India: India-based public policy think tank conducting interdisciplinary research on governance, economy, and development. Comparable to PIDE in producing evidence-based policy research that informs South Asian government decision-making.
• National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) Pakistan: Government-affiliated training institution providing executive education, public administration training, and capacity building for Pakistani civil servants. Comparable to PIDE's EDC arm in delivering tailored government training and consultancy.
• National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER): India's oldest and largest economic policy think tank, combining economic research, survey data collection, and policy advisory services. Directly comparable to PIDE as a South Asian government-affiliated economic research institute with national survey capabilities.
• Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Islamabad: Pakistan-based think tank conducting policy research, advocacy, and dialogue on economic, social, and governance issues. Comparable to PIDE in serving government advisory needs and producing research publications for Pakistani policy debates.
• Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI): Islamabad-based policy research think tank focused on sustainable development, governance, and economic policy in Pakistan. Directly comparable to PIDE as a domestic policy research competitor serving government and development partners.

Emerging players

• Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS): Top-ranked Pakistani private university with strong economics and policy research output competing for graduate students and faculty. Comparable to PIDE as a Pakistani academic-research hybrid, though operates as a private institution with more commercial flexibility.
• International Growth Centre (IGC): Research initiative funded by UK FCDO providing evidence-based policy advice on growth and development in developing countries, with active Pakistan engagement. Comparable to PIDE as a policy research partner for governments on economic reform.

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex: Global development research and teaching institution affiliated with the University of Sussex, producing influential research on poverty, governance, and economic development. Comparable to PIDE in combining graduate teaching with policy research and donor-funded development work.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): Global CGIAR research institute providing policy solutions for ending hunger and poverty in developing countries. Comparable to PIDE as a development-focused policy research institution working with governments and donors on economic and social policy in emerging markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pidepk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCq83tF7h2-bILURlB4wt5-A
• Facebookfacebook.com/PIDEIslamabad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pakistan-institute-of-development-economics
• Instagraminstagram.com/pidepk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pakistan Institute of Development Economics