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ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP):Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Monday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transform the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) into a modern data hub capable of providing policy insights and guidelines to promote economic growth and social prosperity in the country.
Addressing an event organized by PBS to mark World Statistics Day, the minister said the bureau would be developed into a national data hub ensuring access to real-time data for the general public, private sector, and researchers. He said that availability of transparent and credible data was vital for data driven and efficient governance.
The minister emphasized that reliable data plays a pivotal role in decision-making, planning, and policy formulation. He emphasized on “URAAN Pakistan” as a comprehensive development initiative and stated that the government is prioritizing data-driven strategies in shaping the national road map.
He said that the first digital census conducted in 2023 through national consensus as a milestone and highlighted that 61 percent of Pakistan’s population resides in rural areas, while 39 percent lives in urban centers underscoring the urgent need for action in education, healthcare, and urban planning.
He stressed the importance of integrated policies to enroll 25 million out-of-school children, improve basic services for rural communities, and manage increasing urban pressure. Declaring agriculture as the backbone of the national economy, he noted that the number of farming households has risen from 8.3 million to 11.7 million, with 97 percent owning less than 12.5 acres of land.
Planning Minister called for modern techniques and targeted interventions to boost crop yields and develop the livestock sector, including dairy, meat, and leather industries, identifying food security as a major future challenge.
Ahsan Iqbal reiterated that the government’s top priorities include employment generation, public service, and problem-solving. He affirmed that by ensuring public access to data, policymakers are being empowered to make informed and effective decisions.
He further said that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics must evolve into an institution that provides strategic direction to the nation and advances development through scientific leadership.
The population census tells us how many we are, the agricultural census informs us about the quantity of crops we produce, and the economic census guides us on where investment is needed. All these censuses serve as tools for national guidance, he added.
The minister informed that PBS had launched a new website aimed at providing easy access to statistical information, adding that it would play a vital role in data integration for better policy-making and socio-economic planning to ensure the provision of basic civic needs including eduction, heath and communication.
He also emphasized the adoption of international best practices in data collection to ensure transparency, credibility, and statistical literacy for evidence-based policy making to meet social sector development needs, including health, education, transportation, and agriculture sector development.
Ahsan Iqbal said transparent and timely data, gathered through scientific methods, was essential for agricultural development, urban planning, and economic policy making. He highlighted the launch of the URAAN Pakistan Project, which is also based on scientific data, to support national planning initiatives.