PRIME INSTITUTE

PRIME INSTITUTE PRIME is an Islamabad based economic think tank which promotes private enterprise for public good. Do such policies expand or inhibit liberty?

Vision: Open, Free and Prosperous Pakistan

PRIME Institute is a public policy research organization, a think tank, dedicated to the ideals of liberty, and limited government, free markets and development. Our Mission is to increase understanding of public policy based on these principles. We are fiercely independent, and non-partisan, with distinguished scholars from across Pakistan. Our primary

focus is to analyze the domestic and international policies of the Federal Government. If policies restrict freedom, we work to correct that. For example, why is Pakistan ranked 126th in Economic Freedom? Should the government be involved in the industry? What policies should be adopted to protect Pakistani citizens? And many such questions. Our philosophy can be described as Libertarian, which is generally interpreted to mean fiscally conservative and socially liberal. 2014-2-6 monogram prime

We organize summits, dialogues, and lectures which are open to the public. We have published monographs, periodical reports, and books. Our events and publications have evolved around a wide range of economic issues such as free trade, informal economy, housing policy, social protection, export development, national debt and power sector. Our experts have provided expert opinions to Parliament. Our experts have been called upon to assist the Supreme Court. Hundreds of students apply every year to our comprehensive internship program. Every year, we hold the National Freedom Awards, where we acknowledge citizens who have played a role in bringing liberty and prosperity into our lives. Our overriding concern is not with politicians, but with opinion leaders and the Pakistani public, who we reach through Op-eds, media interviews, podcasts, audiobooks, and our websites. Freedom needs a voice in Islamabad and the national media. If that is a value you share, support us, donate, or sponsor. You can follow us on Facebook, and twitter, subscribe to us on YouTube.

23/08/2026

On Pakistan's 79th Independence Day, we took to the streets and asked people one simple question: "What does Azadi mean to you?"

The answers were as diverse as the people themselves, each person offering their own definition of freedom. Yet one sentiment echoed above the rest: the freedom to live, choose, and act on one's own terms.

22/08/2026

๐—ง๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ปโ€™๐˜€ ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—•๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—บ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฎ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฑ ๐—”๐˜€๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜

The Power Division Advisor, Syed Faizan Ali, has proposed setting up a Time-of-Use (ToU) net billing, with additional compensation of Rs 18-22 per kWh for electricity discharged during the 5-10 pm evening peak. The proposal is supported by 30 months of customs data indicating that between January 2024 and June 2026, Pakistan imported over 6 GWh of Lithium-ion batteries, with monthly volumes increasing to 652 MWh in April 2026.

Mohib Amin argues that these numbers point towards a structural shift in Pakistanโ€™s energy markets, with battery storage now scaling at a pace that demands a corresponding policy response.

Complete Article: https://tinyurl.com/3c73a5zu

21/08/2026

๐——๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: ๐—™๐—ถ๐˜…๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ปโ€™๐˜€ ๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ธ๐—ฒ๐˜

The Government of Pakistan has begun the phased privatisation of three state-owned power distribution companies to minimise sector losses and address recurring debt. Privatisation can certainly enhance efficiency when firms operate in a competitive and well-functioning market. However, Pakistanโ€™s energy sector continues to be operated in a single-buyer structure, with strict administrative controls over pricing, market access, and electricity transactions.

Based on the latest Prime Comment, Usama Ihsan, Economist at Prime Institute, explains the order of reforms: the government needs to deregulate the energy market before privatisation.

Complete Article: https://primethinktank.substack.com/p/deregulation-before-privatisation

๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐˜† ๐Ÿณ๐Ÿต๐˜๐—ต ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ป!At Prime Institute, we believe that sustainable progress is built on open market...
14/08/2026

๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐˜† ๐Ÿณ๐Ÿต๐˜๐—ต ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ป!

At Prime Institute, we believe that sustainable progress is built on open markets, fiscal responsibility, and policies that empower individuals and businesses to thrive. We reaffirm our commitment to evidence-based research and policy advocacy in pursuit of a free and prosperous Pakistan.

๐—ง๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ป'๐˜€ ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—•๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—บ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฎ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฑ ๐—”๐˜€๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜ - ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜  # ๐Ÿฐ๐ŸฐIn a recent Prime Comment, Maryam Ayub, Research ...
11/08/2026

๐—ง๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ป'๐˜€ ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—•๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—บ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฎ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฑ ๐—”๐˜€๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜ - ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ # ๐Ÿฐ๐Ÿฐ

In a recent Prime Comment, Maryam Ayub, Research Economist, Prime Institute, explains that the Time-of-Use (ToU) net billing proposal by the Power Division Adviser, Syed Faizan Ali Shah, is a step in the right direction. However, NEPRA's prosumer regulations from late 2025 remain incomplete. There is a need to devise compulsory battery standards, grid connection rules, a national battery registry, and a framework for end-of-life battery management.

Complete Article: https://tinyurl.com/3c73a5zu

Prime Institute conducted an interactive discussion on recent trade developments in Pakistan, presented by Sarah Javaid ...
07/08/2026

Prime Institute conducted an interactive discussion on recent trade developments in Pakistan, presented by Sarah Javaid and moderated by Dr. Ali Salman. Sarah examined the textile and apparel export patterns of Asian economies with their major trading partners and explained how trade agreements and rules of origin differ across markets. Industry representatives, trade experts, and researchers participated in the discussion.

29/07/2026

๐—ฃ๐—ฅ๐—œ๐— ๐—˜ ๐—ฃ๐—น๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ธ, ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜„๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฎ.

Fahd Husain, on his show 'Full Frame' on Express 24/7, interviewed Dr. Ali Salman regarding the findings presented in the PRIME Plus July 2026 edition. The report analysed the Federal Budget 2026โ€“27 through the lens of economic freedom, assessing whether the budget promotes or restricts the ability of individuals and businesses to produce, trade, and consume without arbitrary state intervention. The Index of Economic Freedom gives Pakistan a score of 48.9, classified as 'Repressed'.

Watch the complete interview: https://tinyurl.com/48c9mpsm

28/07/2026

๐——๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜† ๐—™๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐—น ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด: ๐—” ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฝ ๐—ง๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ๐˜€ ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—”๐—ฑ๐—ท๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€ - ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜†๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐—”๐˜†๐˜‚๐—ฏ

On the 17th July, the Federal Cabinet approved a proposal to review and notify fuel prices daily. Under the updated guidelines, OGRA will determine petrol and fuel pricing using a seven-day rolling average of the international Platts benchmark, import premium, and the prevailing exchange rate. More frequent price revisions enable the timely pass-through of international market movements, reduce large price shocks, and improve price predictability.

Complete Article: https://tinyurl.com/p2kyf8uf

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ก๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ณ ๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜† ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑโ€“๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฌ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฝ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜ ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป, ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—บ๐˜€ ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐Ÿฏ,๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ณ ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€...
27/07/2026

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ก๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ณ ๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜† ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑโ€“๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฌ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฝ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜ ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป, ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—บ๐˜€ ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐Ÿฏ,๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ณ ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐˜„๐—ต๐—ถ๐—น๐˜€๐˜ ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—บ๐˜€ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜‚๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—บ ๐—ฅ๐˜€ ๐Ÿญ,๐Ÿฑ๐Ÿด๐Ÿด ๐—ฏ๐—ถ๐—น๐—น๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฅ๐˜€ ๐Ÿญ,๐Ÿฒ๐Ÿฑ๐Ÿญ ๐—ฏ๐—ถ๐—น๐—น๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป.

The recent PRIME Plus examines the Federal Budget 2026โ€“27 through the lens of economic freedom, assessing whether the budget promotes or restricts the ability of individuals and businesses to produce, trade, and consume without arbitrary state intervention. The Index of Economic Freedom gives Pakistan a score of 48.9, classified as 'Repressed'. Several scores conceal rather than reveal: Government Spending (88.5) and Tax Burden (78.2) suggest a lean, low-tax state; Pakistan is neither.

Report Link: https://tinyurl.com/hzvb96ex

Author: Maryam Ayub, Research Economist, PRIME
Article by: Dr. Khalil Ahmad, Distinguished Research Fellow, PRIME

24/07/2026

๐—”๐˜‚๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ณ๐˜€: ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ช๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐—ฃ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ - ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜†๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐—”๐˜†๐˜‚๐—ฏ

In a recent PRIME Comment, we examined the protection versus global competition argument for Pakistan's auto sector. The National Tariff Policy 2025โ€“2030 aims to simplify the tariff structure and limit customs duty to 15% by 2030. In contrast, the auto sector continues to seek protection from competing imports. However, protectionist policies have not led the industry to establish tier-1 manufacturers. By comparison, India benefits from a large domestic market for passenger cars and a thriving export-oriented auto parts industry.

Complete Article: https://tinyurl.com/4dbcwtub

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