Graphic Designer & Photographer – RASTA PIDE 2026
Original Job Description
QUICK FACTS
- Organization: Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) – RASTA Programme, Islamabad
- Job Title(s): Graphic Designer (01 Assignment), Photographers (Multiple Assignments)
- Location: Islamabad, Pakistan
- Number of Posts: 01 (Graphic Designer) + Multiple (Photographers)
- BPS / Pay Scale: Not specified in source advertisement.
- Age Limit: Not specified in source advertisement.
- Education Required: Intermediate / Bachelor
- Experience Required: Not specified in source advertisement.
- Application Deadline: 25 March 2026 (or as per closing date in newspaper advertisement)
- Application Method: Email Expression of Interest and Cover Letter to jobs.rasta@pide.org.pk
- Advertisement No: PID(I)7217/25
- Published Date: 07 March 2026
- Source: Daily Roznama 92 News
RASTA — the PIDE-Planning Commission Research Grants Programme — is offering assignment-based positions for a Graphic Designer and multiple Photographers at its Islamabad office. These roles are tied to ongoing Demand-driven Research projects, and applications must be submitted by 25 March 2026. If you work in visual media and want to contribute to Pakistan’s largest public policy research network, this is worth reading carefully.
JOB OVERVIEW
The RASTA Programme describes itself as Pakistan’s largest economics and public policy research grants programme, operating through a network that includes over 350 universities and think tanks, 162 think tanks and consultancy firms, 194 foreign universities and institutes, 215 federal and provincial government organizations, and 6,735 researchers, practitioners, and professionals. The programme states it has published 122 research reports, papers, and books through its funding to date.
The positions being advertised are assignment-based, not permanent appointments. One Graphic Designer slot and multiple Photographer slots are available to support what the source describes as various Demand-driven Research projects. The advertisement notes that Terms of Reference (TORs) for these roles are available on the RASTA website at https://rasta.pide.org.pk/ — candidates are expected to review the TORs before applying. Registered firms may also apply, not just individual candidates.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Education:
Candidates with Intermediate or Bachelor-level educational backgrounds are mentioned as preferred in the source advertisement. No further detail is provided on relevant fields of study.
Age:
Not specified in source advertisement.
Experience:
Not specified in source advertisement. Candidates are advised to review the TORs at https://rasta.pide.org.pk/ for full requirements.
Domicile / Nationality:
Not specified in source advertisement.
Gender:
Not specified in source advertisement.
Other Requirements:
The advertisement states that registered firms are also eligible to apply alongside individual candidates. Full assignment-specific requirements are contained in the TORs available at https://rasta.pide.org.pk/
HOW TO APPLY
- Visit https://rasta.pide.org.pk/ and download the Terms of Reference (TORs) for the position you are interested in — Graphic Designer or Photographer.
- Prepare your Expression of Interest and a Cover Letter. The source advertisement specifically names both documents as required.
- Email your Expression of Interest and Cover Letter to: jobs.rasta@pide.org.pk
- Submit within fifteen (15) days of the advertisement date (07 March 2026), which points to a deadline on or around 22 March 2026. However, the closing date listed in the source document is 25 March 2026. Use the earlier date to be safe, and confirm against the newspaper advertisement.
- For programme-related queries, write to: rasta@pide.org.pk
- You may also contact the Project Management Unit directly: Tel. +92 (051) 9248144 or 9248026
Always verify the latest instructions on the official advertisement before applying.
Nawa Verdict (archived)
Our original analysis of this role
WORTH APPLYING?
Conditional — worth it if you are a freelance creative professional or a registered firm in visual media looking for policy-sector work, but the lack of salary information and vague eligibility details mean you need to read the TORs first.
COMPETITION LEVEL:
High — PIDE and RASTA are nationally prominent institutions. Assignment roles at a high-profile research body in Islamabad, with no salary disclosed and very broad eligibility criteria, will likely attract a large pool of applicants. Only one Graphic Designer slot is confirmed.
PAY AND BENEFITS:
Not mentioned anywhere in the source advertisement. This is a significant gap. Before applying, candidates should review the TORs on https://rasta.pide.org.pk/ for any compensation details, or reach out directly via rasta@pide.org.pk to ask. Do not assume any standard government pay scale applies — these are assignment-based contracts, not BPS appointments.
RED FLAGS:
1. No salary or compensation information disclosed anywhere in the advertisement.
2. The number of Photographer positions is listed as "Multiple Assignments" with no specific count — vague for serious applicants planning their time.
3. Eligibility criteria are extremely thin. The ad only mentions Intermediate/Bachelor education as preferred but provides nothing on required skills, experience, or portfolios. All real requirements appear to be sitting in the TORs, which candidates must seek out separately.
4. Two different application deadlines appear in the source: "within 15 days of this advertisement" (which would be around 22 March) and 25 March 2026 as per the listing source. Candidates should go by the earlier date or confirm directly.
5. No application portal or structured online form — everything is by email, which can feel informal for a government-backed programme.
HIDDEN BENEFITS:
The RASTA Programme's own description highlights an extensive network spanning government, academia, and international institutions. Assignments here could mean published work connected to national-level policy research — a genuine portfolio credential for creative professionals. Both individuals and registered firms are welcome, which expands who can realistically apply.
BEST FOR:
Freelance photographers and graphic designers — or small creative agencies — who have experience in research, policy, or institutional environments and are comfortable with contract-based work rather than permanent employment. If you already have a portfolio with academic or government clients, this is a strong match.