Ahsan Iqbal unveils Pakistan’s first digital economic census, geo-tags 40 million buildings

TCN On Aug 21, 2025

ISLAMABAD: In a major step toward data-driven governance, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday launched Pakistan’s first Digital Economic Census, calling it a “game-changer” for national economic planning.

Unveiling the Main Findings Report at the Planning Ministry auditorium, Iqbal said the census will help the country move toward scientific economic policies, better utilization of resources, and stronger foundations for sustainable growth.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), which conducted the census, revealed that:

40 million buildings were geo-tagged nationwide.
7.2 million entities are engaged in economic activities, with industrial codes assigned for detailed classification.
10 million households are running micro businesses, with women and SMEs at the core of grassroots economic activity.

Highlighting key sectors, the census found that:

2.7 million entities operate in retail, 88,000 in wholesale, and 23,000 factories contribute to large-scale production.
The economy also includes 825,000 retailers and 643,000 small production units spread across the country.
The social sector comprises 242,000 schools, 36,331 madaris, 11,568 colleges, 214 universities, 119,000 health facilities, and 6,000 places of worship.

Iqbal said the findings will help mainstream the undocumented economy, improve service delivery, and strengthen decision-making for sectors like education, healthcare, and industry.

“This census provides us with a unique opportunity to design policies based on real numbers, not assumptions. It will empower women, uplift small entrepreneurs, and improve governance at every level,” the minister added.

PBS Chief Statistician Dr. Naeem uz Zafar underscored the significance of the launch, saying: “In today’s world, data is not just information—it is power. With this economic census, Pakistan has entered a new era of evidence-based policymaking.”

He noted that the PBS has already rolled out three key initiatives in 2025: the Agriculture Census, Livestock Census, and the newly-launched Economic Census.