In this episode Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy joins Dr. Ijaz Nabi to explore the roots of Pakistan’s current economic and social challenges. Moving beyond fiscal policy, Dr. Pervez argues that the real barriers to progress lie in our culture, education system and collective mindset as a society. He draws comparisons with India, Bangladesh and China to highlight how societies that value science, hard work and equality have managed to transform their future, while Pakistan remains trapped in cycles of poor governance, weak education and misplaced priorities.
From the collapse of higher education to the lack of work ethic and scientific curiosity, the conversation assesses what it would take to realign Pakistan’s path toward meaningful development. At its heart lies a simple but urgent question: can a nation rise without investing in knowledge, truth and learning?
Dr. Ijaz Nabi is Country Director of Pakistan at the International Growth Centre (IGC) and Executive Director of Consortium for Policy Development Research (CDPR). He is a member of Pakistan Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. He formerly worked at the World Bank in Washington DC (1986-2008).
Pervez Hoodbhoy is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, author and a prominent public intellectual known for his advocacy of science, secularism and human rights. He has taught physics at Quaid-e-Azam University and Forman Christian College and is a visiting professor at various international institutions.