Irfan Ahmad Chatha

Irfan Ahmad Chatha

Research Fellow/ Team Lead

Dr. Irfan Ahmad Chatha is a seasoned Development Macroeconomist whose work lies at the intersection of economic theory, institutional reform, and evidence-based policymaking. Trained at Clark University, with a PhD in Economics, his research explores critical development themes such as offshoring and skilled labor employment, technology shocks, and the macro-development nexus of growth, inequality, and the environment. As Research Fellow and Head of the Project Delivery and Management Unit at SDPI, he leads complex assignments on industrial policy, investment climate, and human development monitoring, offering robust analytical insights for Pakistan’s reform trajectory.

He has directly contributed to sub-national reform evaluations, PFM diagnostics, SDG localization, and climate finance assessments. His quantitative skillset—spanning STATA, Python, and econometric modeling—is matched by extensive policy experience with institutions such as UNDP, FCDO, USAID, and the World Bank. His rare blend of academic rigor, institutional leadership, and applied policy experience positions him as a leading voice in development macroeconomics in Pakistan.