The Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) () is a research institute of University of Karachi. It was established in 1973 by the Government of Sindh and financially assisted by Ford Foundation. Prof. Dr. Ehsan Rasheed, the distinguished alumni of Aligarh University and the son of noted scholar Rashid Ahmad Siddiqui, was the first founding Director of the AERC. Prof. Dr. Samina Khalil is the present director of the institute Initially there was only two-year post-master course of M.A.S. at AERC, but now it offers M.A.S, M.Phil., and Ph.D. courses. It has the largest economics research library in Pakistan and hold entire past publications of International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and State Bank of Pakistan. See also List of universities in Karachi List of universities in Pakistan Economics History of economics List of economics topics External links AERC Official Website Economic research institutes Research institutes in Pakistan University of Karachi Science and technology in Pakistan 1973 establishments in Pakistan