Data-based research prerequisite to improve quality of decisions: Mehar

FAISALABAD: Data-based research is prerequisite to improve the quality of decisions and policy making to strengthen growth both for public and private sectors, said Mehar Tiwana, Director Learning Hub at Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan.

Addressing the business community in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), she introduced CERP and said that it has conducted research on strategic indigenous issues by globally known experts to bring a qualitative improvement in policy making.

“However, unbiased data is imperative to improve the quality of decisions at the highest level,” she said and added that chief minister Punjab had formulated policies to bring women in the economic mainstream by just ensuring their mobility.

She disclosed that CERP had also conducted research on problems relating to Karachi, Sialkot and other cities while special courses were also arranged for the bureaucrats. Responding to a question, she said that study could also be conducted to identify pros and cons of declaring “Faisalabad as first Textile Circular City” of Pakistan as it would have a positive impact on the overall economy, environment and sustainability.

She said that initially CERP could arrange funds to identify basic issues while global funding was also possible to fix the long term problems related to it.

Earlier, Arif Ehsan Malik, President FCCI welcomed the CERP delegation and said that data driven, AI and modern technology is being used for industrial development for the global economy. Faisalabad based industrialists should also make decisions to make their exportable surplus competitive in world markets by exploiting pricing mechanism, production process & supply chain related decisions on the basis of authentic data.

He also floated proposals for the preparation of a joint-industrial database, launch of AI driven pilot projects for selected industrial units, launch training programs of SMEs, and establishment of a permanent platform for research and policy dialogue.

Group leader and former President FCCI Mian Javed Iqbal underlined the need for the capacity building of public and private sectors for a comprehensive national uplift. “FCCI is ready to extend fullest cooperation to achieve this objective,” he said and added that Faisalabad is a conglomerate of big and small industrial units and both have their own identical issues.

He said that cottage and small power loom units cannot arrange funds for the resolution of their immediate problems due to the paucity of funds and global funding could be arranged because of their massive impacts on the economy and quality of life of their workers.

He said that President FCCI intends to declare Faisalabad first Textile Circular City of Pakistan as it would push this mega city towards a green economy and help in maintaining its exports volume. He said that Faisalabad was already recycling 60-65 percent textile waste of Pakistan which qualifies it to be recognized as an independent sector and resolve its issues on priority basis. He further said that the circular city was the brain child of Arif Ehsan Malik President FCCI who himself was working on this project while CERP could also nominate a focal person to ensure proper collaboration and progress on this issue.

A question answer session was also held which was participated by Habib Aslam Gaba, Muhammad Azhar Chaudhary, Waheed Khaliq Ramay, Engr. Bilal Jamil, Muhammad Mughees, Asim Habib, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Salman.

Later, Mian Javed Iqbal and President Arif Ehsan Malik presented an honorary shield of FCCI to Mehar Tiwana, Director CERP. Jahanara Amin, Associate Director, CERP was also present on this occasion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026