ISLAMABAD: Dr. M. Aman Ullah, Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), emphasized the vital need for think tanks to remain independent and avoid politicization during a Policy Research Clinic hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Tuesday. The session, titled “Which are the Star Think Tanks for a Government: Listening from an Insider,” explored the role of think tanks in shaping public policy and the challenges they face in influencing government actions.
Dr. Ullah underscored the importance of think tanks in bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation, particularly in complex environments such as Pakistan, where political instability hampers economic progress. He highlighted the need for diversified funding sources, transparency, independent peer review, and public discourse of research findings to maintain think tanks’ independence. The session provided a comprehensive overview of the different types of think tanks—Independent, Government-affiliated, University-based, and Advocacy think tanks—each serving distinct functions in research, analysis, and policy development. Dr. Ullah noted the significant disparity in the number of think tanks between Pakistan, with 33, and leading countries such as the United States and China, which have 2,203 and 1,413 think tanks respectively.
Dr. Ullah also raised concerns about Pakistan’s reliance on global donor agencies for funding think tanks, which may lead to external influences overshadowing local solutions. He pointed out the challenges faced by think tanks in Pakistan, including limited access to policymakers, funding constraints, bureaucratic resistance, and information silos. To address these issues, Dr. Ullah advocated for enhanced social networking, improved coordination with government agencies, and the establishment of think-tank chapters at the provincial level.
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