Senior Research Associate
Abdullah Khalid is a public policy and governance professional with over nine years of experience in institutional reform, legislative advisory, and inclusive economic development. He holds an MS in Government & Public Policy from the National Defence University, Islamabad, where he authored a diagnostic study on the role of the public sector in disaster risk management.
At SDPI, Abdullah leads key research and policy engagement initiatives focused on strengthening regulatory frameworks, advancing the digital economy, and enabling an inclusive and resilient private sector. His portfolio includes work on trade facilitation, digitization of cross-border processes, and the ease of doing business in Pakistan. He is also actively engaged in efforts to modernize governance through evidence-based reforms in local government systems.
Abdullah has been at the forefront of developing a comprehensive local government reform agenda, working closely with policymakers and stakeholders to promote fiscal decentralization, institutional autonomy, and service delivery efficiency. He has designed and led capacity-building initiatives for local government officials and elected representatives to support effective governance at the grassroots level.
As part of SDPI’s democracy and governance focus, Abdullah is also contributing to a forward-looking election reform agenda for political parties, with a focus on internal democracy, transparency, and accountability in party structures.
Under the National Network of Economic Think Tanks (NNETT) initiative, Abdullah is spearheading capacity-building engagements with Chambers of Commerce and Industry across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His work supports institutional strengthening, improved policy advocacy, and enhanced engagement between the business community and government.
Abdullah brings a strong command of policy research, stakeholder engagement, project management, and strategic communication. His written contributions appear regularly in leading publications, where he addresses pressing issues related to governance, political economy, and institutional development. He continues to work toward inclusive, accountable, and future-ready governance systems in Pakistan.
© 2026 SDPI. All Rights Reserved Design & Developed by NKMIS WEB Unit
