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Economist

Economists study how money, jobs, prices and policies work — in banks, government, research and global organisations.

Stream
FSc Pre-Engineering or ICS or FSc Pre-Medical
First salary
PKR 45,000 – 70,000 a month
Field
Economics
Facts checked
26 Sept 2026

About

An economist studies how people, businesses and governments use money and resources — why prices rise, why jobs grow or shrink, and how policies like taxes and budgets affect ordinary people. In Pakistan, economists work at the State Bank, finance ministry, think tanks, banks, and global bodies like the World Bank, analysing data and writing reports that guide decisions worth billions of rupees.

A day in the life

  1. 1Collect and clean data on inflation, trade, jobs or farm output
  2. 2Build spreadsheets and models to test what is driving a trend
  3. 3Write short briefs or long reports explaining findings to managers
  4. 4Attend meetings on budget, interest rate or policy questions
  5. 5Present slides to officials, clients or donors
  6. 6Read new research and follow budget and SBP announcements

Is this for you

You'll likely enjoy it if

  • You enjoy maths and statistics, not just reading about the economy
  • You like asking why prices and policies behave the way they do
  • You can write clearly and explain numbers to non-experts
  • You are patient with long data work and research
  • You follow news about the budget, rupee and inflation

The hard parts, honestly

  • Early salaries are modest compared to banking or software
  • Serious economist roles usually need a strong Master's or MPhil
  • Much of the work is reading, data and writing, not glamour
  • Policy jobs can be slow-moving and affected by politics

Stream to choose

FSc Pre-EngineeringICSFSc Pre-MedicalI.Com also worksFA / Humanities also works

Subjects that matter most: Mathematics, Economics, Statistics, English

Any Matric stream works. For FSc, Pre-Engineering or ICS (with Maths) keeps the strongest doors open; I.Com and FA with Economics + Maths also work. A Level students should take Maths with Economics. Aim for a BS Economics or BS Economics & Finance.

Salary in Pakistan

  1. Fresh graduate (0–2 years)

    PKR 45,000 – 70,000/ month

    Research assistants and junior analyst roles at think tanks, banks and government projects.. Average Economist Salary in Pakistan — PayScale · checked 26 Sept 2026

  2. Experienced economist (5+ years)

    PKR 1 lakh – 1.9 lakh/ month

    Senior and specialist roles in banks, consultancies and international organisations.. Economist Salary in Pakistan for 2026 — WorldSalaries · checked 26 Sept 2026

All figures in PKR per month, from the sources shown.

Where to study

Public universities3

  • University of the Punjab

    Lahore · BS Economics

    pu.edu.pk

  • Government College University

    Lahore · BS Economics

    gcu.edu.pk

  • University of Karachi

    Karachi · BS Economics

    uok.edu.pk

Private universities2

  • Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)

    Lahore · BS Economics (Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School)

    lums.edu.pk

  • Institute of Business Administration (IBA)

    Karachi · BS Economics & Mathematics

    iba.edu.pk

Where to work

  • Ministry of Finance, Government of PakistanGovernment

  • Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)Government

    Tax policy and revenue analysis

  • Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE)Research institute

  • Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)Think tank

  • World Bank (Pakistan office)International organisation

  • Asian Development Bank (Pakistan resident mission)International organisation

  • UNDP PakistanInternational organisation

  • State Bank-supported commercial banks (e.g. HBL)Bank

    Economic research and treasury desks

Future outlook

Pakistan's recurring economic challenges — inflation, debt, energy and tax reform — keep demand alive for good economists in government, think tanks, banks and donor projects. A plain BS alone is not enough: the best-paid roles go to those with a strong Master's or MPhil, solid statistics and data skills, and clear English writing. Many economists also move into policy consulting, development sector jobs, or teaching.

Growing fast

  • Development and donor-funded research projects
  • Banking and financial research
  • Data analytics and econometrics
  • Public policy consulting
  • Energy and climate economics
  • Fintech and digital economy research

Working abroad

Pakistani economists are hired by the World Bank, IMF, ADB and UN agencies, and by universities in the UK, US and Gulf after a strong Master's or PhD. Remittance-earning roles in Gulf central banks and research centres are also common.

Your roadmap

Class 9–10 for future economists: build strong Maths and English now — your Matric marks feed LUMS, IBA and Punjab later.

Milestones

  1. Start of Class 9

    Set your Matric target percentage and subject targets

    Write down a target (e.g. 90%+ overall, 95% in Maths) and stick it above your desk. This is the number that will matter for college admission and your permanent record.

  2. Class 9, all year

    Build the daily Maths + English routine

    One hour of Maths practice and 30 minutes of English reading/writing daily. These two subjects carry your board result and your future economics career.

  3. Class 10, by January–February

    Finish the Class 10 syllabus first pass

    Aim to complete the full syllabus of all subjects once before the spring exams, so the last months are pure past-paper revision, not new chapters.

  4. Class 10, February–March

    Solve past papers under exam conditions

    Do at least 5 years of your board's past papers, timed, marked honestly against the marking scheme.

  5. Spring, Class 10

    Sit the board exams

    Matric or O Level exams in spring. Sleep well, manage time per question, and attempt every question — board marking rewards completeness.

  6. After results, summer after Class 10

    Choose your group: FSc Pre-Engineering / ICS / I.Com / FA / A Level subjects

    For economics, prefer ICS with Maths or FSc Pre-Engineering; I.Com or FA with Economics + Maths also work; A Level students should take Maths with Economics. Apply to colleges as soon as results come out — good colleges fill fast.

What to focus on

  • Mathematics is your main subject, not an extraBoth years, every term

    Economists live on numbers: statistics, percentages, graphs, growth rates. Whatever board you are in (FBISE, Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balochistan, AKU-EB) or O Level, target 90%+ in Maths. Weak Matric Maths becomes weak FSc/ICS Maths, and BS Economics programmes like IBA's BS Economics & Mathematics expect real Maths strength.

  • English decides your board-exam and later entry scoresDaily habit from Class 9

    Economics careers run on reading reports and writing clearly. English is a full Matric/O Level subject whose marks count in your overall percentage — which matters for admission to good colleges for FSc, ICS or A Level, and for merit scholarships. Read one English news article daily (Dawn is free online).

  • Know which marks will count laterUnderstand now, act in Class 10

    No entry test is needed for economics at this stage, but your Matric/O Level result is used for college admission (FSc, ICS, I.Com, FA, A Level) and some universities like LUMS and IBA look at your full academic record, including Matric, when you apply for BS Economics. A weak Matric result closes doors two years before you even apply.

  • Start thinking about your group choice earlyClass 10, second half

    After Matric you must pick: FSc Pre-Medical, FSc Pre-Engineering, ICS, I.Com, FA or A Level subjects. For economics, ICS (with Maths) or FSc Pre-Engineering keeps the strongest doors open; I.Com and FA with Economics + Maths also work; A Level students should take Maths with Economics. Decide by Class 10 so your college and subject choices line up.

Tests and deadlines

  • Board exams (Matric or O Level) in springSpring of Class 10

    Your only real exams at this stage are the Class 10 board exams — FBISE, your provincial board (Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balochistan), AKU-EB, or Cambridge O Level, held in spring. No MDCAT, ECAT or NUST NET yet. These marks feed your college admission and your permanent academic record.

  • School and board model papers / past papersClass 10, from December onwards

    Not a formal test, but practising past papers of your board is how toppers prepare. Download free past papers from your board's website (e.g. FBISE, BISE Lahore) or Cambridge's website for O Level subjects and solve them under timed conditions.

Skills to build

  • Excel / spreadsheetsStart in Class 9

    Every economist's daily tool. Learn formulas, charts and basic data tables now — you will use them in BS Economics assignments and later at the State Bank or a think tank.

  • Clear English writingDaily habit

    Economists produce reports. Practise one short paragraph daily summarising a news story in your own words — this also lifts your English board marks.

  • Basic statistics thinkingClass 9–10

    Averages, percentages and graphs from your Matric Maths syllabus are the seed of statistics, a core economics subject. Go beyond the textbook: calculate your family's monthly expenses and plot them.

Competitions

  • School and board-level essay and speech competitionsThroughout Class 9–10

    Economists write and argue for a living. Board and school-level English essay, declamation and quiz competitions are real, accessible and build the writing confidence you will need for CSS-style exams and think-tank work later. Ask your school coordinator what is open this year.

People to know

Most first jobs and internships come through people. Start early, and keep it simple.

  • Follow Pakistani economics institutions online

    Follow the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), and PRIME Institute on LinkedIn and YouTube. Their free talks and reports give you early exposure to what economists actually do in Pakistan.

  • Join school societies

    Join your school's debating, literary or maths society and take one office or competition role. At this age, clubs teach teamwork and public speaking — the soft skills that separate good economists from average ones.

  • Ask one teacher or senior each month

    Talk to your maths teacher, a cousin in university, or any graduate doing BS Economics about which group they took after Matric and what they wish they had done differently. One honest conversation beats weeks of confused googling about ICS vs I.Com.

What it costs

Government school Matric is nearly free (a few thousand PKR a year); private school fees run roughly PKR 3,000–25,000 per month depending on the city. O Level via a private school or academy costs more, often PKR 15,000–50,000 per month plus Cambridge exam fees per subject.

Scholarships

  • PEEF (Punjab Educational Endowment Fund) scholarshipsAfter Matric results

    For Punjab students with strong Matric marks from government or low-fee schools — covers college fees and stipend for FSc/ICS/I.Com. Apply after your Class 10 result through peef.org.pk.

  • Sindh Endowment / KPK / Balochistan provincial scholarshipsAfter Matric results

    Sindh Endowment Fund and equivalent bodies in KPK and Balochistan offer merit and need-based stipends for students who score well in Matric. Check your provincial endowment or education department website after results.

  • School and college merit waiversAt college admission after Matric

    Many private schools and colleges waive 25–100% of fees for students above a marks threshold (often 85–90%+ in Matric). Ask the admissions office directly — these are rarely advertised.

  • Ehsaas / Waseela-e-Taleem style supportOngoing during school years

    Need-based government support for school students from low-income families; stipends are paid through the Benazir Income Support Programme system for eligible families. Verify current status via BISP/Ehsaas official channels.

Learn more

People to follow

Books

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