Economist - REMIT Programme

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) Programme, funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), provides technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan to improve the business environment, attract investment, and support sustainable economic growth.

As part of Pakistan's commitments under the IMF programme, the Government is undertaking a comprehensive SEZ Phase-Out and Transition Plan to assess the effectiveness and fiscal implications of existing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) incentives and develop a roadmap for transitioning towards a more sustainable, rules-based investment facilitation framework. This transition requires robust economic analysis to evaluate the impact of existing incentives on investment, industrial development, exports, employment generation, and broader economic outcomes.

To support this effort, REMIT seeks to engage an Economist to provide analytical support for the economic assessment of Pakistan's SEZ regime and contribute to the development of evidence-based policy recommendations underpinning the transition framework.

The objective of the assignment is to provide economic analysis and policy support for the implementation of the SEZ Phase-Out and Transition Plan, with a focus on assessing the economic performance, effectiveness, and broader development impact of SEZ incentives.

The Economist will support the Board of Investment (BoI), the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the broader technical team by conducting economic assessments, analysing investment and industrial development trends, evaluating the effectiveness of SEZ incentives, and supporting the development of reform options. The Economist will work closely with the Fiscal & Incentives Expert, Institutional Analysis Expert, Legal & Contractual Expert, and other members of the technical team to ensure that policy recommendations are grounded in rigorous economic analysis and aligned with Pakistan's economic reform objectives.

The Economist will report to SEZ Fiscal & Incentives Expert and responsible for supporting the economic analysis component of the SEZ incentives Phase-Out and Transition Plan.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

•       Conduct economic assessments of Pakistan's SEZ regime, including analysis of investment, industrial output, employment generation, exports, and other relevant economic indicators.

•       Analyse the economic effectiveness and performance of existing SEZ incentives and assess their contribution to investment attraction and industrial development objectives.

•       Review available economic and sectoral data to identify trends, constraints, and opportunities related to SEZ performance.

•       Support economic modelling and scenario analysis related to the transition from profit-based incentives to cost- and performance-based facilitation mechanisms.

•       Assess the potential economic implications of proposed reform options on investment competitiveness, private sector development, and economic growth.

•       Contribute to the preparation of the SEZ Transition Concept Note through analytical inputs, economic assessments, and policy recommendations.

•       Support the development of evidence-based reform options and policy recommendations informed by international good practices and country experience.

•       Participate in stakeholder consultations and technical discussions with government entities, development partners, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders.

•       Prepare economic assessment reports, analytical briefs, presentations, and supporting documentation for decision-makers.

•       Provide technical quality assurance for economic analysis and ensure consistency across project deliverables.

•       Work closely with other technical experts and the REMIT team to ensure alignment between economic, fiscal, legal, and institutional reform recommendations. 

•       Advanced university degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Development Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.

•       Around 10 years of experience in economic research, policy analysis, economic modelling, and development planning.

•       Demonstrated experience preparing analytical reports, economic assessments, policy briefs, and reform recommendations.

•       Strong understanding of industrial development, investment competitiveness, and economic reform issues.

•       Experience working with governments, development partners, research institutions, or donor-funded programmes will be an advantage.

•       Familiarity with investment climate reforms, industrial policy, economic governance, and private sector development issues.

•       Knowledge of SEZs, investment promotion frameworks, and international economic development practices will be an advantage.

•       Strong analytical, report-writing, and presentation skills.

•       Excellent analytical and writing skills, with the ability to communicate complex economic issues clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

•       The Economist will work closely with the REMIT team and will report to the REMIT Team Lead and Investment Climate Lead. The assignment will require close engagement with key government stakeholders, along with presentation and review of deliverables by the REMIT team, FCDO, and other relevant stakeholders.

•       Closing Date: 30th June 2026