Pakistan Institute of Development Economics was established at Karachi in 1957 and in 1964 accorded the status of an autonomous research organization by the Government of Pakistan. It is devoted to theoretical and empirical research in Development Economics in general and on Pakistan-related economic issues in particular. In addition to providing a firm academic basis to economic policy-making, its research also provides a window through which the outside world can view the nature and direction of economic research in Pakistan. Other social sciences, such as demography and anthropology, and interdisciplinary studies increasingly define the widening scope of research that must be undertaken for proper economic policy and development to have sound underpinnings. Experts at PIDE undertake their projects as part of the annual research agenda under intra-institutional or collaborative arrangements with several national and international organizations. Current areas of emphasis are economic issues, development studies, social issues, agricultural and physical sciences, environment, and natural resources. The Institute also provides training in economic analysis, research methods and project evaluation. The PhD Programme in Economics at PIDE admitted its first batch of students in the year 2000.