Educational research associations the world over are seen to be making tremendous contribution towards building research networks, developing research cultures, enabling policies and practices to be linked to research and increasing the potential impact of research (e.g. British Educational Research Association). In order to initiate the development of a research culture in Developing Countries, Aga Khan University - Institute for Educational Development has taken the initiative to establish an educational research association in Pakistan namely "Pakistan Association for Research in Education" (PARE). Members could include but not be limited to: scholars and academics; educational researchers; educationists; policy makers and practitioners. PARE, earlier called PERA (Pakistan Education Research Association), was launched at the conclusion of the International Conference "Quality in Education: Teaching and Leadership in Challenging Times" during February 21-23, 2006 at AKU-IED.
The aims of the association are

• To promote a vibrant educational research culture in Pakistan
• To enhance the impact of educational research on policy and practice

The specific objectives of the association are to:

• Encourage and support the conduct of educational research on issues of relevance
• Identify, develop and disseminate standards for achieving quality in educational research
• Provide a forum for researchers to share research findings relevant to education with colleagues
• Encourage discussion and debate on methodological issues in educational research in Pakistan
• Disseminate research findings to a variety of stakeholders particularly amongst policy makers and practitioners
• Build research capacity of educationists in Pakistan
• Facilitate access to research databases and publications
• Network with similar organizations at national and international levels

Encourage the conduct and dissemination of comparative research on issues of significance to education in developing countries, particularly in the region

Executive Council Committee Members

1. Dr. Hafiz Iqbal
   Professor, & Director, IER, University of Punjab, PARE President

2. Dr. Parveen Munshi
   Associate Professor, Faculty of Education University of Sindh, Hyderabad, PARE Vise President

3. Ms. Tasneem Shabbar
   Principal, Al-Murtaza School, Karachi. PARE Treasurer

4. Dr. Sajid Ali
   Assistant Professor, Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development PARE General Secretary

5. Mr. Naeem Ahmed
   Principal, Minaret Model Secondary School, Cooperative Teacher, Hamdard University and PARE Joint Secretary

6. Dr Fauzia Shamim
   Professor, Department of English, University of Karachi
   
   
7. Dr Anjum Halai
   The Amir Sultan Chinoy Group Associate Prof. & Head, RAPS
   
   
8. Mr. Abbas Rashid
   Chairman, Society for the Advancement of Education, Lahore
   
   
9. Ms. Tazeen Saeed Ali
   Assistant Professor, AKU-SON and Joint Faculty, CHS, Karachi
   
   
10. Mr. Malick Shahbaz Ahmad Tahir
    Research and Documentation Specialist at SPO, Islamabad
    
    
11. Dr. Nelofer Halai
    Associate Professor & Coordinator, PhD Programme, AKU-IED, Karachi