About Me
I am an ambitious and highly motivated economist with a strong academic and professional background. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics, Management and Decision Making at the University of Catania, Italy, my research focuses on Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Economics. I strive to excel in my field through hard work, perseverance, and dedication, with the aim of utilizing my skills productively and contributing meaningfully to both academia and industry.
Education
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Ph.D. in Economics, Management and Decision Making – University of Catania, Italy (2023 – Present)
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MPhil in Economics – Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan (2014 – 2016)
Thesis: Horizontal and Vertical Inequalities across the region & time in Punjab, Pakistan
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MSc in Economics – Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan (2012 – 2014)
Project: Good Governance as a tool to combat inflation
- BSc in Economics, Statistics, and Mathematics – University of Punjab, Pakistan (2010 – 2012)
Work Experience
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Visiting Researcher – Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany (Aug 2025 – Aug 2026)
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Visiting Researcher – Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany (Feb 2025 – Jul 2025)
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Data Analyst (DEO) – Federal Government of Pakistan, Islamabad (Jul 2020 – Feb 2024)
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Human Resource Officer (OG-III) – The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank Ltd., Rawalpindi (Feb 2017 – Jun 2020)
Skills
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Analytical & Research Skills: Econometric modeling, statistical analysis, and data-driven policy evaluation
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Software Proficiency: R, STATA, EViews, SPSS, Tableau, Microsoft Office
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Core Competencies: Data visualization, decision-making, organizational planning
Certifications & Training
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Data Analytics in Marketing – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
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Data Visualization with Tableau – University of California, Davis, USA
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Money Laundering in the 21st Century & Crypto Currency Training - US Department of Justice & FBI
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Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Training (CFT) – The Institute of Bankers, Pakistan
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Officers Branch Operations Program - The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank Ltd
Awards & Scholarships
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Italian Government Scholarship (2023 – 2027)
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Punjab Educational Endowment Fund Scholarship (2012 – 2014)
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National Internship Program – PMAS Arid Agriculture University (2015 – 2016)
Social & Leadership Activities
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Vice President , Barakzai Welfare Movement (2017 – Present)
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Project planning, execution, and evaluation
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Policy development and implementation for community welfare
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Research Interests: Artificial Intelligence, Socioeconomic Environmental Issues, Development Economics, Women Empowerment
Research Period Abroad
1. Six months (Feb 2025 - July 2025) stay at Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) , Müncheberg, Germany. Worked in Farm Economics and Ecosystem Services Group .
2. One year (Aug 2025 - Aug 2026) stay at Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Winter School
EAERE INTERDISCIPLINARY SCHOOL IN RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
2025, organized at the University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics and the
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Institute of Environmental Studies.
Reviewer of the Journals
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Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Springer Nature
- Review of Economic Trends, University of Lahore, Pakistan
Research Profiles
Google Scholar , ResearchGate , ORCID
- Safdar, H., Shah, A. H., Khalid, M. W., Hussain, S., & Rehman, K. B. (2025). Reflecting the Dynamics of Multidimensional Poverty in Shanties Community of Pakistan: An Evidence of Last Decade. Poverty & Public Policy, 17(4), e70045.
- Fu, J., Ahmad, W., Hussain, B., Khalid, M. W., Lambarraa-Lehnhardt, F., & Umair, M. (2025). Shadow economy, financial inclusion and economic growth nexus: Evidence from developing countries. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12, 1724.
- Khalid, M. W., Shah, A. H., Khan, A. U., & Nicita, L. (2025). Revisiting the EKC hypothesis in high-income EU countries: The role of technological innovation, green energy, and transport energy in shaping ecological footprints. Sustainable Futures, 10, 101174.
- Khalid, M. W., Samargandi, N., Shah, A. H., & Almandeel, S. (2020). Socio-economic factors and women's empowerment: evidence from Punjab, Pakistan. International Economic Journal, 34(1), 144-168.
- Khalid, M. W., Kayani, A. S., Alotaibi, J. M., Muddassir, M., Alotaibi, B. A., & Kassem, H. (2020). Regional trade and food security challenges: The case of SAARC countries. Agricultural Economics, 66(7), 335-344.
- Kayani, A. S., Muddassir, M., Khalid, M. W., & Shah, A. H. (2018). Impacts of climate change on agricultural land productivity: an evidence from Punjab Province of Pakistan. JAPS, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 28(2), 584-588.
- Khalid, M. W., Zahid, J., Ahad, M., Shah, A. H., & Ashfaq, F. (2018). Dynamics of unidimensional and multidimensional inequality in Pakistan: Evidence from regional and provincial level study. International Journal of Social Economics.
- Ridzuan, A. R., Khalid, M. W., Zarin, N. I., Razak, M. I. M., Ridzuan, A. R., Ismail, I., & Norizan, N. (2018). The impact of foreign direct investment, domestic investment, trade openness and population on economic growth: evidence from ASEAN-5 countries. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(1), 128-143.
- Ridzuan, A. R., Khalid, M. W., Zarin, N. I., Razak, M. I. M., Ridzuan, A. R., Ismail, I., & Norizan, N. (2018). Do financial development and inflation influence Malaysia economic growth? An application of bound tests. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(1).
- Hassan, M. U., Khalid, M. W., & Kayani, A. S. (2016). Evaluating the dilemma of inflation, poverty and unemployment. Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), 5(2), 67-82.
- Khalid, M.W., Saboor, A., Shah, A. H., & Kayani, A. S. (2016). Horizontal and vertical inequalities across the region and time in Punjab. Indian Journal of Economics and Development, 4(12), 1-9.