SPDC is a non-profit policy research organisation, it provides decision makers in the government, private sector and civil society organisations with a multi-disciplinary approach towards issues of development and growth. It collaborates and cooperates with organisations working on issues relevant to its mandate both at home and abroad. It determines its own agenda and has successfully maintained its independence and a balance between responsive and proactive social sector research. SPDC's main areas are poverty, inequality, governance, provincial finances, social sector policies, gender issues and macroeconomic policy issues. SPDC has made significant intellectual contribution in placing issues of pro-poor growth and social development on Pakistan's policy-making agenda.