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Prof. Dr. Babar Aziz

Prof. Dr. Babar Aziz

Professor
Department: Economics
Email: babar.aziz@gcu.edu.pk
Research Interests: Consumer demand modeling, inequality, environmental economics, food security, and macroeconomic sustainability.
Office Location: Director, Institute of Economics, Policy and Entrepreneurship, PG Block, GC University, Lahore
Contact Number: UAN 111-000-010; ext 277; +92 42 99214597
Personal Website : https://gcu.edu.pk/economics.php?pg=faculty1
Biography

Dr. Babar Aziz is a distinguished economist and academic leader with over 25 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic administration across some of Pakistan’s most reputable higher education institutions. Currently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Director of the Institute of Economics, Policy and Entrepreneurship, and Chairperson of the Department of Economics at Government College University Lahore, he brings a wealth of experience in strategic academic leadership, program innovation, and institutional development.

His academic journey includes impactful roles at Forman Christian College University, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, and Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, among others. Recognized for his pedagogical excellence, Dr. Aziz was honored with the "Best Teacher in Punjab" award in 2006.

Dr. Aziz has a prolific research record with 49 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international journals. He has successfully directed numerous funded research projects for international organizations and national development agencies, notably the World Bank, BISP, and the Government of Pakistan. His editorial and peer-review contributions span over two dozen reputable journals. As a mentor, he has supervised over 50 postgraduate theses, including PhD dissertations.

He is also an active member of various national and international academic bodies and advisory boards, rei

Education
2009  PhD in Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
1997  MS/MPhil in Applied Microeconomics, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
1994  Masters in Economics, Bahauddin Zakaryia University Multan, Pakistan
1992  BA/BSc(Hons) in Economics, Government Post Graduate College Vehari, Pakistan

Teaching Areas

Microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics, research and quantitative methods, public sector economics, managerial economics, and international trade.
Experience
From To Designation Firm/Institution
Aug 2023 Continue Director, Institute Of Economics, Policy And Entrepreneurship  GC University Lahore
Jan 2023 Continue Dean, Faculty Of Arts & Social Science GC University Lahore
Oct 2019 Continue Professor Of Economics GC University Lahore
Jul 2016 Sep 2019 Professor And Dean, Faculty Of Humanities And Social Sciences NUR International University Lahore, Pakistan
Jul 2013 Jun 2016 Professor And Chairperson, Department Of Economics, Faculty Of Management Sciences Forman Christian College (a Charted University) Lahore, Pakistan
Aug 2010 Jun 2013 Associate Professor, Department Of Economics, Faculty Of Management Sciences Forman Christian College (a Charted University) Lahore, Pakistan
Jan 2008 Aug 2010 Assistant Professor, Department Of Economics, Faculty Of Economics And Management Sciences GC University Faisalabad, Pakistan
Mar 1999 Jan 2008 Lecturer In Economics / Deputy Director Colleges District Vehari Government Postgraduate College Vehari
Jul 1996 Apr 1999 Research Associate Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad
Sep 1995 Jun 1996 Research Associate Pakistan Institute Of Development Economics Islamabad

Journal Papers

Yi, E.; Haq, S.; and Aziz, B. (2025). "Green finance and globally competitive and diversified production: powering renewable energy growth and GHG emission reduction." Pol. J. Environ. Stud, 34 (2), . DOI: https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/185350 | Impact Factor: 1.5
Yousaf, U.; Ali, F.; Aziz, B.; Hussain, S.; and Sarwar, S. (2024). "Assessing the impact of renewable energy and financial development on ecological footprints in emerging Asian economies." Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2024 , . DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04587-5 | Impact Factor: 4.9
Wang, W.; Shahbaz, P.; Aziz, B.; and Nadeem, M. (2024). "Examining the relationship between ecological commitment, environmental knowledge, and farmers’ nature friendly behavior: Investigating the moderating influence of environmental legislation." SAGE Open, 14 (3), . DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241271073 | Impact Factor: 2.032
Zhou, L.; Alharthi, M.; Aziz, B.; Kok, SH.; Wasim, S.; and Dong, X. (2024). "Illuminating the contributions of Fintech, mineral resources, and foreign direct investment in alleviating environmental issues : An empirical analysis." Resources Policy, 89 (2024), 104635. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104635 | Impact Factor: 10.2
Li, H.; Bhatti, Z.; Abbas, Q.; Ahmad, I.; Iqbal, N.; & Aziz, B. (2024). "Measuring low carbon energy and environmental sustainability performance of BRICS." Singapore Economic Review, 69 (1), 357-376. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S0217590820500617 | Impact Factor: 1.18
Yousaf, U.; Aziz, B.; and Hussain, S. (2024). "The dynamic linkages between public debt threshold level and unemployment in selected indebted economies: dynamic panel threshold model." Heliyon, , . DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4679226 | Impact Factor: 3.776
Yousaf, U.; and Aziz, B. (2024). "Unveiling the relationship between the optimal debt threshold level and debt-economic growth in selected indebted countries: Panel Threshold Analysis." Quality and Quantity, 58 , 5003-5025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-024-01888-9 | Impact Factor: 0.865
Lian, T.; Haq, S.; Shahbaz, P.; Zhao, L.; Nadeem, M.; and Aziz, B. (2023). "Changing food patterns during the pandemic: Exploring the role of household dynamics and income stabilization strategies." Sustainabality, 15 (23), 1-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010123 | Impact Factor: 3.889
Luo, J.; Ali, SA.; Aziz, B.; Ahme d Aljarba, A.; Akeel, H.; and Hanif, I. (2023). "Impact of natural resource rents and economic growth on environmental degradation in the context of COP-26: Evidence from low-income, middle-income, and high-income Asian countries." Resources Policy, 80 (2023), 103269. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.103269 | Impact Factor: 10.2
Gulzar, A.; and Aziz, B. (2023). "Impacts of Climate Change on Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from the Asian Region." IRASD Journal of Economics, 5 (4), 929-943. DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.52131/joe.2023.0504.0171
Cheng Y.; Nadeem M.; Haq S.; Prisca K.; Aziz B.; Imran M.; and Shahbaz P. (2023). "Maintaining quality of life during the pandemic: Managing economic, social, and health well-being amid COVID-19 crisis of agri-entrepreneurs." Sustainability, 14 (23), 1597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315597 | Impact Factor: 3.889
Ahmad, I.; Hussain, S.; and Aziz, B. (2023). "The impact of corruption on economic growth: Evidence from developing countries." Pakistan Journal of Social Issues, XIV (2023), 244-254.
Yousaf, U. S.; Ali, F.; Syed, S. H.; Aziz, B.; and Sarwar, S. (2022). "Exploring environment sensitivity to fiscal and monetary policies in china: using ecological footprints as a contemporary proxy." Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29 , 36412-36425. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18085-y | Impact Factor: 5.19
Shahbaz, P.; Haq, SU.; Boz, I.; Aziz, B.; and Hafeez, A. (2022). "Gendered impact of COVID-19 on consumption of perishable and nonperishable food commodities in Pakistan." Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, 13 (5), 731-747. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-02-2022-0041 | Impact Factor: 2.49
Lei X.; Alharthi M.; Ahmad I.; Aziz B.; and Abdine, Z. (2022). "Importance of international relations for the promotion of renewable energy, preservation of natural resources and environment: Empirics from SEA nations." Renewable Energy, 196 , 1250-1257. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.07.083 | Impact Factor: 8.634
Shahbaz, P.; Abbas, A.; Aziz, B.; Alotaibi, BA.; and Traore, A. (2022). "Nexus between climate-smart livestock production practices and farmers’ nutritional security in Pakistan: Exploring level, linkages, and determinants." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (9), 5340. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095340 | Impact Factor: 3.39
Yousaf, U. S.; Ali, F.; Aziz, B.; and Sarwar, S. (2022). "What causes environmental degradation in Pakistan? Embossing the role of fossil fuel energy consumption in the view of ecological footprint." Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29 , 33106-33116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17895-4 | Impact Factor: 5.19
Yang, Z.; Abbas, Q.; Hanif, I; Alharthi, M.; Taghizadeh-Hesary, F.; Aziz, B. & Mohsin, M. (2021). "Short and long run influence of energy utilization and economic growth on carbon discharge in emerging SREB economies." Renewable Energy, 165 , 43-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.10.141 | Impact Factor: 8.634
Yu Ke, C.; Awan, R.; Aziz, B.; Ahmad, I.; and Wasim, S. (2021). "The relationship between energy consumption, natural resources, and carbon dioxide emission volatility: empirics from G 20 economies." Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29 , 25408–25416. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17251-6 | Impact Factor: 5.19

Conference Papers

4th International Conference on Economic Issues and Sustainable Development-EISD 2024 (2024), The Women University Multan. Multan, Pakistan. Babar Aziz. , Paper: "Inclusive Growth in Pakistan: Unpacking Determinants and Policy Pathways"

Projects

Title Role Funded by Amount Year Status
Operational Review of Benazir Taleemi Wazaeef Program Principal Investigator Benazir Income Support Program, Government of Punjab, Pakistan 117500000.00 2025 Ongoing
BISP Beneficiary Satisfaction Survey Principal Investigator Benazir Income Support Program, Government of Punjab, Pakistan 79000000.00 2023 Completed
Operational Review of BISP Nashonuma Programme (59.6 million) Principal Investigator Benazir Income Support Program, Government of Punjab, Pakistan 59600000.00 2023 Completed
Baseline survey to capture the impact of early childhood education initiatives Principal Investigator Punjab human capital investment project (PHCIP), Government of Punjab, Pakistan 39700000.00 2022 Completed

Awards/Achievements

Best Teacher in the Punjab (2006), Government of the Punjab. In recognition of my outstanding teaching performance during a three-year tenure at Government Postgraduate College Vehari, where I played a pioneering role in launching and delivering newly initiated postgraduate programs in economics, I was honored with the prestigious Best Teacher in Punjab award by the Government of Punjab. This accolade reflected not only my commitment to academic excellence and curriculum innovation but also my ability to inspire and engage students at advanced levels of study in a developing academic environment.
Gold Medal (1994), Bahauddin Zakaryia University Multan. In 1994, I was awarded a Gold Medal by Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, in recognition of securing the highest academic distinction in the MA Economics program. This honor reflected consistent academic excellence, analytical rigor, and a deep commitment to the discipline during the course of my graduate studies.

Thesis/Research Supervisions

Qazi Usman Saleem (2025), Ph.D.. Thesis: "An analysis of the effects of threshold level of public debt on macroeconomic indicators in case of selected indebted economies" (Completed)
Umara Faraz (2025), Ph.D.. Thesis: "IMF and programme recidivism in Pakistan: a disaggregated time series analysis of taxation, inequality and devaluation, 1982-2022" (In Progress)
Sidra Rehman (2025), Ph.D.. Thesis: "An analysis of vulnerability-resilience nexus towards disaster risk reduction" (In Progress)
Ahmed Gulzar (2025), Ph.D.. Thesis: "Optimizing macroeconomic impacts of climate change" (Completed)
Imtiaz Ahmed (2024), Ph.D.. Thesis: "Growth implications of corruption and natural resources: the role of institutions" (Completed)
Faiza Arshad (2024), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Spatial patterns of migration and housing market segmentation in Lahore" (Completed)