Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs, and former Vice Chancellor, Beacon-house National University, Pakistan gave his kind words in a video message for IFPRI’s 40th Anniversary celebration.
Mr. Aziz recalled a conversation with Dale Hathaway during the 1974 World Food Conference, for which he served as the Deputy Secretary General, that the analytical work on food policy should be continued through a dedicated research institute. A year later, IFPRI was established. Since the 1980s, IFPRI has partnered with Pakistan to develop evidence-based research and policy options to end poverty, hunger and malnutrition. IFPRI conducted studies on agricultural productivity, agricultural markets, and water resource management in the country.
In July 2011, in response to a request from the Government of Pakistan, IFPRI launched the Pakistan Strategy Support Program (PSSP)—a flexible country-led and country-wide policy analysis and capacity strengthening program that delivers analytical support on a range of economic policies affecting agricultural growth and food security in the country. The core purpose of the program is to contribute to pro-poor economic growth and enhanced food security through strengthened national capacity for designing and implementing evidence-based policy reforms. The work IFPRI has been doing in collaboration with the Pakistani government and other partners has been critical in supporting the development of strategies, polices and investments that serve millions of poor, rural households and food-insecure urban households.
