Pakistan has launched its first ever Digital Economic Census, a milestone initiative aimed at supporting scientific economic planning and strengthening data-driven governance. Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal inaugurated the exercise at the “Ceremony of Economic Census – Main Findings Report” held at the Ministry of Planning Auditorium. Speaking at the event, he said the census will provide critical statistics to guide policies on sustainable growth, resource utilization, unemployment, and good governance. Iqbal stressed that this data-set is expected to shape a stronger foundation for economic decision-making and ensure that development priorities are aligned with the needs of citizens and businesses.
During the exercise, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) geo-tagged 40 million buildings across the country, identifying 7.2 million entities engaged in economic activities. Each entity was assigned an industrial code, allowing for more precise policy design. The census further revealed that nearly 10 million households are contributing to the economy by engaging in small businesses or micro-enterprises. According to the minister, this information will be key to empowering women-led ventures and strengthening small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which remain the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. The findings also showed that out of 7.2 million units, 2.7 million are involved in retail while 88,000 are part of wholesale trade. Across the country, there are around 825,000 retailers, 23,000 factories, and 643,000 small production units actively contributing to the industrial landscape.
The scope of the census extended beyond commerce and industry, capturing valuable information on education, health, and social sectors. The report highlighted that Pakistan hosts 242,000 schools, 36,331 madaris, 11,568 colleges, and 214 universities. It also recorded 119,000 healthcare facilities and around 6,000 places of worship. Minister Iqbal noted that such comprehensive data will help improve service delivery, ensure better governance, and integrate undocumented segments of the economy into the mainstream. He emphasised that bringing informal activities under documented structures is critical for strengthening fiscal management and creating new opportunities for economic growth.
Chief Statistician Dr. Naeem Uz Zafar, also present at the event, highlighted the importance of reliable data in modern economies, describing it as a key driver of value creation. He stated that 2025 has been a landmark year for PBS, with the launch of three separate census exercises including agriculture, livestock, and the latest economic census. He said that the availability of such extensive datasets positions Pakistan to pursue informed policymaking and address gaps in national planning with evidence-based strategies. The minister and PBS officials both underscored that the digital approach to data collection represents a new chapter in Pakistan’s economic history, offering the tools necessary to make decisions grounded in evidence rather than estimates.
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