Dr. Ishrat Husain Explains What's Holding Pakistan's Economy Back | Kamran Khan | On My Radar

On today's episode of On My Radar, Kamran Khan speaks to Dr. Ishrat Husain, celebrated economist and former State Bank Governor.


From his humble beginnings in Hyderabad to becoming a top economist at the World Bank, Dr. Husain reflects on decades of experience, including his pivotal role in shaping reforms under General Musharraf and witnessing political instability derail progress with 18 Prime Ministers in just 20 years.


He explains the reasons behind Pakistan’s economic stagnation, from weak industrial capacity and reliance on imports to underperforming agriculture. But it’s not all doom and gloom—Dr. Husain offers a bold roadmap for sustainable growth, focusing on leadership, industrial potential, and agricultural reform.


A must-watch for policymakers, economists, and anyone curious about Pakistan’s path to prosperity!


#nukta #nuktapakistan #kamrankhan #onmyradar #omr #ishrathusain #pakistaneconomy #economicreforms #pakistangrowth

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00:00 – 04:58 Introduction
04:59 – 17:06 How I Became a Gold Medalist in Economics from MSc Chemistry
17:07 – 30:58 Yahya Khan’s Failure to Transfer Power to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
30:59 – 36:09 Joining the World Bank: From Junior Economist to Country Director
36:10 – 42:14 Dr. Ishrat Husain’s Interaction with General Musharraf and General Aziz
42:15 – 57:59 Transforming the State Bank: Challenges, Reforms, and Achievements
58:00 – 01:01:23 Musharraf and Soomro: Political Pressures vs. Economic Stability in an Election Year
01:01:24 – 01:05:29 18 Prime Ministers in 20 Years: How Political Instability Derailed Pakistan's Economic Progress
01:05:30 – 01:11:19 Dr. Ishrat Hussain on the Need for Domestic Production Capacity
01:11:20 – 01:15:24 Moving Beyond Constituency Politics to Issue-Based Governance
01:15:25 – 01:19:27 Failure of Institutional Reforms and Austerity Measures Under PTI Govt
01:19:28 – 01:22:46 Addressing Provincial Contributions and the Weaknesses of FBR
01:22:47 – 01:25:14 What Pakistan Lost After the 18th Amendment
01:25:15 – 01:34:53 The Stalemate in Pakistan's Energy Sector: Bureaucracy vs. Market Reforms