Muneeb Shafiq

Provide economic analysis, investment appraisal and quantitative modelling to support major NSW Government policy, infrastructure and industry initiatives. Develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses and forecasting models that inform evidence-based investment and policy decisions.
Projects

• Bays West Precinct Cost-Benefit Analysis Freight, Port and Urban Renewal Appraisal
  -Contributed to the cost-benefit analysis of alternative land-use scenarios for the Bays West Precinct, assessing the economic trade-offs between retaining port and freight operations and urban renewal outcomes.
  -Developed transport-related cost and benefit streams, including freight logistics impacts, vehicle operating costs, travel time costs, environmental externalities and wider economic impacts using NSW Government appraisal principles.
  -Built economic models supporting scenario analysis, sensitivity testing and NPV assessment across alternative development options, informing strategic investment decisions and business case development.
  -Worked with policy, planning and infrastructure teams to refine appraisal assumptions, validate economic inputs and communicate investment outcomes to senior decision-makers.
• NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy Refresh Cost-Benefit Analysis
  Transport Policy Appraisal
  -Supported the cost-benefit analysis of transport initiatives under the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy Refresh, including EV charging infrastructure, fleet electrification and electric freight vehicle incentives.
  -Contributed to economic models assessing capital costs, operating costs, environmental benefits and long-term economic impacts associated with transport decarbonisation initiatives.
  -Evaluated policy options through scenario modelling and sensitivity analysis, supporting investment prioritisation and evidence-based policy recommendations.
  -Prepared analytical summaries and briefing material communicating appraisal methodology, key assumptions and economic findings for senior government stakeholders.
• NSW Skills Plan – Workforce Demand Forecasting
  -Led development of an integrated forecasting framework combining PLIDA, BLADE, ABS Census, migration and labour market datasets to forecast workforce demand and supply across priority industries.
  -Developed forecasting models using ARIMA, VAR and mixed-frequency time series techniques to project employment growth, occupational demand and future skills shortages supporting long-term strategic planning.
  -Produced evidence-based insights and executive reporting that informed workforce investment priorities across NSW.
• Government Procurement Impact Evaluation
  -Developed a linked analytical dataset integrating NSW Government procurement, BLADE and PLIDA administrative data to evaluate supplier participation, employment outcomes and business performance across government procurement programs.
  -Applied econometric techniques including propensity score matching and difference-in-differences to assess policy effectiveness and support evidence-based government investment decisions.
  -Delivered technical advice on analytical methodology and findings to cross-agency stakeholders.
• Aboriginal Employment & Enterprise Strategy
  -Undertook regional labour market analysis using Location Quotients (LQs), demographic analysis and employment modelling to identify workforce gaps and priority industries for targeted government investment.
  -Developed Power BI dashboards and analytical products enabling senior decision-makers to monitor employment outcomes and regional economic performance.

• Supported research for a public sector report titled “Urban Labor Market Dynamics and Informal Sector Growth in Pakistan: A Case Study of Lahore.”
• Collected and analyzed survey data on employment trends in Lahore’s informal economy, focusing on sectors like retail, construction, and transport.
• Used Stata and R for data cleaning, regression analysis, and visualization to identify wage disparities and employment patterns between the formal and informal sectors.
• Assisted in the design and dissemination of surveys targeting urban workers and small business owners, achieving a 70% response rate.
• Drafted sections of the research paper, including the methodology and preliminary findings, under the guidance of the lead researcher.
• Conducted a comprehensive review of existing literature on labor market dualism and its implications for urban economic policies in Pakistan.
• Collaborated on presentations for academic seminars and policy workshops, highlighting the role of informal employment in urban labor absorption.

Provided economic advisory services to government agencies and public sector clients across the GCC, supporting business cases and investment appraisal for transport and urban infrastructure programmes.
Projects

• Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan – Transport Investment Option Assessment
  -Developed the economic appraisal for proposed transport corridor improvements supporting the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, comparing Base Case and Project Case scenarios across alternative investment options.
  -Built Excel-based cost-benefit models estimating lifecycle costs, residual values and incremental user benefits, including travel time savings, vehicle operating cost savings and accessibility improvements.
  -Worked with transport planners to convert travel demand forecasts into economic appraisal inputs and validate modelling assumptions used in the business case.
  -Undertook option assessment using NPV, BCR and sensitivity testing across alternative staging scenarios, identifying the preferred investment option based on economic performance.
  -Prepared economic appraisal documentation summarising modelling methodology, assumptions, risk analysis and investment recommendations for government steering committees.
• Etihad Rail Phase II – Freight Connectivity Business Case
  -Supported the economic appraisal of freight connectivity improvements associated with Etihad Rail Phase II, assessing alternative rail access options for industrial and logistics precincts.
  -Estimated freight operating cost savings, travel time reliability improvements and productivity benefits arising from proposed rail infrastructure investments.
  -Developed scenario testing for freight demand growth, capital costs and operating assumptions to evaluate the resilience of investment outcomes.
  -Prepared investment option summaries comparing economic performance across alternative project configurations to support business case development.
• Abu Dhabi Integrated Transport Strategy – Accessibility Assessment
  -Contributed to accessibility assessments evaluating proposed public transport investments across emerging residential and employment precincts.
  -Analysed catchment accessibility, network connectivity and projected transport demand to quantify accessibility improvements delivered under each investment scenario.
  -Developed executive dashboards presenting economic appraisal outcomes and supporting evidence-based prioritisation of transport investment opportunities.

Supported senior economists in preparing feasibility studies and economic appraisals for transport and urban infrastructure projects under the Provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP).
Projects

• Punjab Cities Program – Urban Road Improvement Business Case
  -Assisted in preparing the economic appraisal of urban road improvement projects under the Punjab Cities Program, supporting investment decisions for municipal transport infrastructure.
  -Compiled baseline traffic counts, socioeconomic indicators and population projections used to establish Base Case assumptions for project evaluation.
  -Developed Excel-based models estimating lifecycle project costs alongside incremental benefits from reduced travel times, improved accessibility and lower vehicle operating costs.
  -Assisted senior economists in comparing investment options using NPV, BCR and sensitivity testing before inclusion in development funding submissions.
• Provincial Road Rehabilitation Programme
  -Supported the economic evaluation of regional road rehabilitation projects included within Punjab's Annual Development Programme by assessing alternative investment options against defined Base Case conditions.
  -Worked with engineering teams to reconcile construction cost estimates, maintenance schedules and implementation timelines used within economic appraisal models.
  -Analysed the sensitivity of project outcomes to changes in traffic growth, construction costs and project delivery assumptions, identifying the primary drivers of investment performance.
  -Prepared technical appendices documenting economic assumptions, modelling methodology and investment findings for feasibility studies submitted to provincial planning authorities.
• Lahore Urban Transport & Traffic Management Initiative
  -Assisted in analysing traffic survey data and transport demand trends to support appraisal of intersection upgrades and corridor improvement projects within Lahore.
  -Produced statistical analysis, thematic maps and investment summaries highlighting expected improvements in accessibility, network performance and regional connectivity.
  -Supported preparation of briefing papers communicating economic findings to senior planners responsible for prioritising transport investments.