Dr. Arslan Tariq Rana
- Designation: Associate Professor
- Department: Economics
- Faculty: FHSS
Dr. Arslan Tariq is serving as an Assistant Professor at University of Central Punjab (UCP). Before joining University of Central Punjab (UCP), he was working as Assistant Professor and head of economics cluster at FAST School of Management (FAST-NU). He also worked as Assistant Lecturer and Research Fellow at University of Orléans, France and taught economics courses at Master’s and undergraduate level. His areas of research interest are Regional/Bilateral trade agreements, international trade and economic integration, international political economy and development economics. He has published in various peer-reviewed journals. He has also provided his services as reviewer in Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, International Economics and Economic Policy and Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. Dr. Arslan has worked as Principal Investigator on the project HEC PERIDOT Research Program, co-funded by Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development (MAEDI) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR).
| Area(s) of Expertise | Types of Consultancy Services Offered | Industry relevant to expertise | Name of relevant industry | Past industry experience (if any) | Problem Solved (success story), if any | Benefit to Company (PKR/USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Trade Policy, Data Analysis, Econometrics, Development | Policy Evaluation, Social Impact Assessment, Gender-Inclusive Taxation Frameworks, Stakeholder Engagement (FGDs, IDIs) | Public Policy, Taxation, Social Development, Gender Equity | Government of Punjab (Taxation Authorities), International Financial Institutions (IFIs), NGOs working on gender and poverty alleviation | Research on tax reforms in Pakistan, collaboration with Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA), engagement with vulnerable groups (low-income, disabled, transgender communities) | Identified regressive taxation impacts on vulnerable groups; recommended gender-sensitive tax policies to reduce economic disparities | Enhanced policy compliance, reduced social conflicts |
| E-Commerce, Fintech, SME Development, Education Technology | Punjab IT Board, Telecom Companies (Jazz, Telenor), Start-up Incubators (Plan9, NIC) | Collaboration with international donors, research on digital adoption in Punjab’s textile/agriculture sectors | Identified gaps in digital literacy; proposed a policy framework to enhance entrepreneurial access to digital tools | Increased SME participation in digital economy (Estimated value: USD 500K in economic uplift) | ||
| Trade Agreement Analysis, Renewable Energy Policy Advisory, Stakeholder Negotiation Support, International Collaboration Facilitation | Energy Sector, International Trade, Environmental Sustainability, Academic Research | Ministry of Energy (Pakistan), Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), WTO-affiliated trade bodies, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, French Ministry of Education and Research | Research on Pakistan’s energy trade gaps; collaboration with University of Orléans (France) under a joint project funded by the French Ministry of Education and Research and HEC Pakistan | Highlighted Pakistan’s absence from energy sustainability commitments under GATS; recommended strategies to leverage regional/bilateral agreements for renewable energy trade | Potential for green energy investments and policy alignment with EU standards |