National Agenda for Policy-oriented Research

As the country moves ahead steadily after the 2013 elections, certain key issues confronting the nation should be on the priority of think-tanks and research organizations with an aim to present policy-oriented advice. Preserving the national sovereignty and freedom are paramount. Governance, or lack of it - running through and along most of our problems of today - must assume a priority attention. Challenges of external and internal security, a renewed foreign policy centered on safeguarding the country's own interest and further cementing the relations with friendly countries are also priority areas. Among the national issues the reorganization of the federal structure, education, economy, energy and water problems and their various dynamics should be central focus of research.

The National Academic Council (NAC) of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad meets every year to identify priority areas for IPS' annual research program. The annual session of council brings together senior academicians, intellectuals, former civil and military bureaucrats and leading intellectual-politicians. This write up is based on the council's deliberations for 2013. The ideas and priorities set forth the context and agenda for research in the policy arena and are equally relevant for other organizations in the same field, independent researchers, faculty and students of universities and institutions of higher learning, as well as media.