IBA conference calls for climate action, inclusive growth
The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi hosted its sixth annual International Conference on Business and Economic Research (CBERCON 2026) on November 5-6, bringing together policymakers, academics, industry leaders and students to discuss pathways towards a sustainable economic future for Pakistan.
Organised by IBA’s Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), the two-day conference was held under the theme “Beyond Polycrisis: Pathways Towards a Sustainable Economic Future”.
The event was organised in partnership with the World Bank Group, Sindh Higher Education Commission, NOWPDP, Dawn Media and Avari Towers.
In his opening remarks, IBA Executive Director Dr S Akbar Zaidi described Pakistan’s economic, climate, population and political challenges as interconnected crises.
He said economic growth had remained only slightly above population growth for years, while climate change and population expansion required greater attention.
Pakistan’s population of around 250 million is projected to reach 270 million by 2030, he said.
Dr Yaqoob Khan Bangash, professor and dean of SESS, said Pakistan had demonstrated resilience through repeated crises but warned that survival should not be mistaken for progress.
He said the country needed to focus not only on overcoming its crises but also on identifying ways to move beyond them.
Climate change requires broader policy response
Prof Adil Najam, dean emeritus and professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and president of WWF International, delivered the opening keynote on “Climate Change and the Age of Adaptation”.
He described climate change as a present reality and called for its integration into policies on water, health, education and infrastructure.
Climate change was “too important to be left to climate people alone”, he said.
Prof Iwi Ugiagbe-Green, professor of equity in education and academic director of STRIVE at Manchester Metropolitan University, revisited John Maynard Keynes’s Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren.
She argued that prosperity should be measured through people’s well-being and the planet’s ability to sustain life.
The first day also featured a leadership session with Bank of Punjab President and CEO Zafar Masud on resilience and ethical leadership.
Former federal ministers Umar Saif and Miftah Ismail participated in a conversation, while Kaifiyat Collective presented a theatre performance on sustainability.
Climate minister highlights economic constraints
On the second day, CBER Director Dr Lubna Naz said moving beyond overlapping crises required research-driven solutions linking economic resilience, climate action and inclusive growth.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Musadik Malik used the image of a kite running out of string to explain how Pakistan’s economic growth repeatedly stalls because of foreign exchange shortages.
He said climate disasters should be assessed through their impact on lives and livelihoods rather than gross domestic product alone.
Malik also urged students to apply their education to the country’s challenges.
Sherry Rehman highlights renewable energy gains
Senator Sherry Rehman, chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and former federal minister, delivered a keynote titled “The Sun, the Self and Power in the Age of Disruption”.
She said Pakistan was at the forefront of the transition to solar energy, estimating that renewable energy had helped the country avoid around $12 billion in fossil fuel and liquefied natural gas imports between 2018 and 2026.
Rehman also discussed the emergence of a multipolar world order, saying Pakistan had positioned itself as a credible middle power.
She cautioned against leaving human decisions to algorithms and encouraged young people, particularly women, to establish a stronger public voice.
Sessions examine economic and governance challenges
Panel discussions at CBERCON 2026 examined job creation in Pakistan, the role of higher education institutions in evidence-based policymaking, gender and water conflicts, populism and political stability, and the use of artificial intelligence in economic policy.
Participants also discussed flood-related loss and damage in South Asia.
A grand dialogue focused on trade and tariff reforms, while parallel technical sessions provided researchers with a platform to present new work on the conference theme.
The conference concluded with audience reflections, reaffirming IBA’s commitment to connecting research with policymaking and preparing the next generation to help steer Pakistan towards a sustainable economic future.