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Friday March 29, 2024

SDPI ranked 97th in top global think tanks

By Rasheed Khalid
February 03, 2018

Islamabad: Sustainable Development Policy Institute has been ranked at 97th in the top global (non-US) think tanks.

The ranking was announced in the 11th edition of University of Pennsylvania Global Go to Think Tank Index (GGTTI). According to this index, SDPI is 14th among the top think tanks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific and is the top think tank in Pakistan.

The 2017 GGTTI is based on the ranking done among 7,815 globally selected think tanks. The annual GGTTI ranking index reports are referred to identify and to recognize the centres of excellence in policy research, to forge knowledge and policy partnerships and to create a global think tank village.

Launching the report, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI said that his NGO further improved its ranking in the index as compared to 2016 when it stood at 15th in the region and emerged as 53rd among top independent think tanks with an improvement of two point compared to 2016 in independent think tanks category. Similarly, he said, SDPI improved its position clinching the 97th position from its last year=s 103 position among top global (non-US) think tanks. He said that SDPI is the only institute in Pakistan that was included in the list of 142 top non-US global think tanks.

Top among them are French Institute of International Relations, Bruegel (Belgium) and Chatham House (UK). The Brookings Institution (US) is ranked as top think tank of the world. Dr Suleri said think tanks play a major role in analyzing the issues confronting their respective countries and global communities.

Their importance has been increased manifold amid the growing needs to address the challenges of food and water insecurity, climate change, urbanisation, overpopulation, poor planning and misuse of land and water resources. Think tanks provide analytical situations and solutions to address one or more of these issues.

Speaking on the occasion, Rector, International Islamic University, Dr Masoom Yasinzai, said h it is a recognition of Pakistan and not just SDPI and would help build soft image of Pakistan in the global community.

Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel said that SDPI=s top ranking is a matter of pride for all Pakistanis and credit for these rankings goes to the dedicated team of experts, Board of Governors and staff of the SDPI.