More About AERC

The Applied Economics Research Centre, was established in 1973. The Centre undertakes research on issues in applied economics, with special interest being focused in the areas of urban and regional economics, agriculture, human resource development, poverty, health, public finance, nutrition and environment and women’s issues. With subsequent growth of the Centre, its activities have broadened to include the advance training of economists from all parts of Pakistan. A major development in this connection has been the introduction of its own M.Phil./ Ph.D. program.
The Center's work is disseminated to policy makers and interested audience through its own publications. It publishes a Research Report Series, a Discussion Paper Series, and an internationally refereed bi annual journal, The Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics.
The Centre has expanded considerably, and now employs over 30 full time economists, 6 of whom hold Ph.D. degrees from leading US and British Universities and foreign universities, 2 have M.A./M.Phil. degrees from recognized universities abroad and the rest hold qualifications from Pakistan. The research staff is ably assisted by specialized administrative staff. Institutionally, this growth in capacity, size and scope has led to the Centre being awarded the title of Institution of National Capability in Applied Economics by the Higher Education Commission.

The AERC is governed by its own Statutes and Service Rules and has its own Board of Governors with representation from the Government, University of Karachi and other institutions. The Statutes and Service rules have been approved by the Syndicate and the Senate of the University of Karachi. The major functions of the Centre defined in the Statutes are contract research and core/academic research and post-graduate teaching. The purpose of contract research is to facilitate research on behalf of International and national agencies, Government of Pakistan and Government of Sindh. All appointments at the AERC are governed by the Service Rules. The Applied Economics Research Centre is a public sector institution and is exempted from paying income tax.

Advisory Services

The research expertise of the Centre is utilized externally through the participation of staff members in Advisory Bodies and Working Groups and Task Forces constituted by Government of Pakistan for Policy Formulation. Amongst these are the Planning Commission, (Government of Pakistan) Government of Sindh; Islamic Ideology Council; Central Board of Revenue; Advisory Panel on Development Strategy; Task Forces on Economic Policy Formulation, Poverty Reduction, Economic Revival; the Budget Review Committee; the Tariff Reforms Committee and various Commissions like the Taxation Commission, the Resource Mobilization and Tax Reforms Commission and the Manpower Commission.

	Vice-Chancellor, University of Karachi.
	Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi.
	Chairman, Department of Economics, University of Karachi.
	Governor, State Bank of Pakistan or his representative
	Chairman, Higher Education Commission.
	Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Development. (GOP)
	Secretary, Ministry of Education. (GOP)
	Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Development. (GOS)
	President, Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
	Representative, Syndicate, University of Karachi.
	Representative, Academic Council, University of Karachi.
	Two experts in Economics.
	Director, Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi.
	Two representatives Of AERC Staff .

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GOP=Government of Pakistan
GOS=Government of Sindh