Beenish Amjad

Poverty & inequality researcher @WorldBank | Alum-@Columbia | Fellow @CEQinstitute & @PIDEpk | Views personal

[Jasir Shahbaz @LahoreMarquez]

Shahbaz Sharif landed in Jeddah and General Asim Munir in Iran. Last time this Shia Sunni balance was seen in Aalim online.

[Michael Kugelman @MichaelKugelman]

Pakistan’s role has shifted from facilitator and go-between to direct mediator and peace negotiator (amid reports of 3-way talks taking place in Islamabad). For now at least, Pakistan’s in the driver’s seat in the difficult & delicate effort to guide the US & Iran to an off ramp.

[Ahmer Naqvi @karachikhatmal]

It amazes me that after everything we endure we still choose to show up and watch this.

[Beenish Amjad @BeenishTabrez]

Happy to see our work published in the International Microsimulation Association Journal. This paper presents the PRICES model, developed over several years, and applies it to study how inflation affects households in Pakistan.

To read: https://t.co/oBhGSaUSTd

[Christoph Lakner @ChristophLakner]

We are hiring! We are looking for a JPO to work on creating a global poverty map and linking it with the locations where World Bank projects are operating.

Requirements: German nationality, Masters plus three years (or PhD)

Deadline: 22 February

https://t.co/65NLhhNaT0

[Beenish Amjad @BeenishTabrez]

Pakistan literacy crisis is real-only 63% of people can read and write.

This is alarming for the country with over 65% of population under 30 years of age.

[Asad Ali Toor @AsadAToor]

Literacy has risen from 60% in 2018-2019 to 63% in 2024-2025, an increase of three percentage points in around six years. Analysts described the pace of improvement as “alarmingly slow” for a country of more than 240 million people. https://t.co/bLpwjSpl8P

[Current Report @Currentreport1]

BREAKING:

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia has officially announced that foreign nationals are now permitted to purchase and own residential properties, land, and agricultural farms across the country.

[Beenish Amjad @BeenishTabrez]

Grace and maturity

[Ihtisham Ul Haq @iihtishamm]

PPP has shown great maturity. The footage is absolutely beautiful, showing the Sindh government officially welcoming the Chief Minister of KPK. He was presented with a traditional cap and ajrak. Full of grace, respect, and true politics. Many can learn from this.

[Atif Mian @AtifRMian]

College is still very much worth it - if anything, government needs to invest more in it

A lovely paper with hard data to prove the point
(link in reply)

[Junaid Iqbal @JiqbalPK]

https://t.co/J5zLAucQxI

[Ihtisham Ul Haq @iihtishamm]

The footage coming from the TLP protest is horrible & deeply hurtful. The government should have chosen dialogue instead of a crackdown. Innocent people have been severely injured, and some have lost their lives. This will not take us forward. This is not how countries progress.

[Raza Ahmad Rumi @Razarumi]

-Blueprint outlines a $1.2 billion Pasni Port project
-A new railway will link the port to mineral sites — such as Reko Diq.
-The port is framed as non-military, excluding any “direct basing” for U.S. forces.
-First shipment of Pakistan’s critical minerals was sent to the U.S. last month, per FT.
-A sign of U.S.–Pakistan economic re-engagement amid global competition for rare minerals.

[Beenish Amjad @BeenishTabrez]

Concordia, the gateway to Pakistan’s crown jewels -K2, Broad Peak, G1 & G2 — attracts climbers from around the globe. It offers some of the world’s best views, yet not even a basic bathroom facility. This needs urgent government attention to facilitate visitors @GovtofPakistan

[World Bank Poverty @WBG_Poverty]

Samuel Z. Stone Professor of Latam Econ @Tulane & Dir @CEQInstitute @noralustig will deliver the final keynote address of the 11th @ecineq conference co-hosted by @WorldBank & @GWtweets. Watch here on July 11, 11:30-12:30 PM ET: https://t.co/cDsK4ty2k5

[Luis Felipe López-Calva @LFLopezCalva]

Kicked off the first day of the 11th @ecineq Conference hosted by @WorldBank and @GWtweets!

Great to see so many brilliant minds gathered to discuss economic inequality and the pathways to address it. A special highlight was the opening keynote by @DAcemogluMIT, expertly chaired by @noralustig, held at George Washington University. A fascinating discussion on “Can Technological Progress Build Shared Prosperity? Lessons from Power and Progress”.

Looking forward to the conversations ahead over the next two days!

#ECINEQ2025

[World Bank Poverty @WBG_Poverty]

Join us NOW for @MIT Prof. & #NobelPrize Laureate @DAcemogluMIT's keynote address on whether technological progress can build shared prosperity as part of the 11th Conference of the Society for the Study of Economic Inequality (@ecineq).
https://t.co/NPvBLfvasE

[Wimbledon @Wimbledon]

"It's probably the first time he's watched me and I won the match."

Novak Djokovic is relieved to get a win in front of Roger Federer 😅

#Wimbledon

[Luis Felipe López-Calva @LFLopezCalva]

How fiscal interventions alter income distribution in Middle East and North Africa countries?

Using the Commitment to Equity framework, Alan Fuchs Tarlovsky, @BeenishTabrez, and Mario Julian Loayza Grisi suggest that direct cash transfers and social assistance programs are effective in reducing poverty, while investments in education and healthcare help lower income inequality.

In contrast, energy subsidies tend to be regressive, and indirect taxes often widen income disparities.

This new @WorldBank Policy Research Working Paper gives important insights into why comprehensive fiscal reform is essential in settings with high poverty and inequality: https://t.co/CSzJ9KudxE

[WeRateDogs @dog_rates]

This is Gus. He was caught sitting at the kitchen table while home alone. His motives remain unknown. 14/10

[Luis Felipe López-Calva @LFLopezCalva]

Join us on July 8 for a full day of insights and debate on policy innovations to tackle economic #inequality.

We’ll kick off with a thought-provoking opening debate on “Does Inequality Matter for Development?” featuring @IndermitGill (@WorldBank Chief Economist) and François Bourguignon (Paris School of Economics @PSEinfo), moderated by Cecilia García-Peñalosa (Aix-Marseille University).

We have an exciting agenda with sessions on regional inequalities in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, innovative methods and data for measuring inequality, social mobility, and how to better leverage tax administrative data.

Learn more and register here: https://t.co/aOerMF6s42