In the bustling city of Multan, Nimra Usman, a young economist with an M.Phil. degree from Bahauddin Zakariya University, stood at the threshold of her dreams. Meanwhile, in the serene hills of Murree, Aimen Shakeel Abbasi, another aspiring economist with an M.Phil. from the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, was ready to embark on a journey that would change her life. Both of us women from vastly different backgrounds, found ourselves walking through the doors of the World Bank, united by a common goal.
As we entered the World Bank office, we were filled with several questions. What would life look like in this prestigious institution? Amidst so many senior experts, would our work and contributions be valued? How would our interactions with fellow colleagues unfold? These uncertainties swirled in our minds as we stepped into a new world.
Their story is a testament to the values of diversity and inclusion upheld by the World Bank. Given the right opportunity, young professionals from underrepresented regions can change their personal and professional trajectories. The rigorous competition for such opportunities left us feeling empowered, valued, and more aware of how national policy is shaped and macroeconomic indicators are analyzed and represented.
Under the program, we had the privilege to work with seasoned economists from the Economic Policy team at the Pakistan country office. Our major tasks included supporting the preparation and dissemination of the Pakistan Development Update, a flagship bi-annual macroeconomic report, and addressing pressing macroeconomic areas related to fiscal management, external balances, tax policy, and fiscal federalism in Pakistan.
The program granted both of us a rare chance to not just observe but actively contribute through research and analysis. Despite our diverse academic, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, we were entrusted with conducting research, data analysis, and data visualization, and delving deep into policy analysis. This experience shaped our skill sets, encouraged critical thinking, and trained us to work as part of a team, making mistakes and learning along the way, boosting our self-confidence.
Development work goes beyond mere statistics — it’s about unraveling the narrative behind those numbers
The program enhanced our understanding of development economics, revealing that analysis is not just about economic modeling and forecasting, but about how economic narratives are shaped and policies are carefully developed for economic dialogues. We realized that economic development is as much about people and perseverance as it is about numbers and projections.
In the realm of imperfect answers and incomplete data, reality is shaped by people’s resilience and the power of curiosity
Beyond technical outputs and formal meetings, the informal exchanges with the World Bank staff over coffee and lunch were some of our most enriching conversations. These casual interactions made us feel welcomed, by offering us an opportunity to learn from their diverse professional and cultural experiences. This not only refined our perspectives on how to navigate professional careers but also provided us with an opportunity to understand the culture of collaboration, open dialogue and mutual respect.
In addition to sharpening our technical capacities, the journey taught us a sense of responsibility towards each output. Adjusting to a new professional environment and working under tight deadlines was deeply rewarding, yet challenging. All in all, the experience reaffirmed our aspirations to meaningfully contribute to Pakistan’s economic development landscape and to keep asking the hard questions to drive progress and leave our mark. This two-month opportunity opened new doors for both of us, giving us a head start to a promising career.
Our dream continues, and so does our curiosity.
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