ISLAMABAD (Staff Reporter)
In celebration of World Statistics Day 2025, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) officially launched its new state-of-the-art website and interactive data dashboards, marking a major step toward digital transformation in public data access. The launch event was held in Islamabad on Monday, with Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, serving as the chief guest.
During the event, Ahsan Iqbal also announced the commencement of DataFest 2025, themed “The Language of Numbers, A Sign of Progress”, scheduled for November 11–12, 2025. The festival aims to promote data-driven innovation, inclusion, and awareness among academia, civil society, and youth at the national level.
Observed under the United Nations framework, World Statistics Day highlights the importance of reliable, inclusive, and evidence-based data for building informed societies. This year’s theme, “Quality Statistics and Data for All,” emphasizes equal access to trustworthy and accessible data for sustainable development and decision-making.
The event began with an awareness walk, led by Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, symbolizing public engagement and the pivotal role of data in inclusive national development.
PBS Chief Statistician Dr. Naeem uz Zafar (Sitara-i-Imtiaz) welcomed participants and reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to innovation, transparency, and service excellence. He highlighted PBS’s ongoing efforts to transition into a modern, data-driven institution, capable of translating complex statistics into actionable insights for policymakers, researchers, and the general public.
“We aim not just to collect data but to make it meaningful, accessible, and trustworthy,” Dr. Zafar stated.
Muhammad Sarwar Gondal (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), Member Support Services/Resource Management, presented a detailed overview of the new digital platforms. The website and dashboards feature user-friendly interfaces, dynamic graphics, and advanced analytical tools, enabling users to better understand and utilize statistical data.
He emphasized that these initiatives align with PBS’s vision to make data smarter, more accessible, and more useful—regardless of whether the user is a policymaker, student, or researcher.
In his keynote speech, Ahsan Iqbal underlined the critical role of authentic data in planning and policy-making, stating, “Decisions made on solid evidence ensure national progress.” He described “Uraan Pakistan” as a comprehensive development blueprint that relies heavily on data-driven governance.
Referring to the first digital census completed in 2023, the minister called it a landmark achievement. He revealed that 61% of Pakistan’s population lives in rural areas, while 39% reside in cities, necessitating urgent action in education, healthcare, and urban planning.
He emphasized the need for integrated policies to enroll 2.5 million out-of-school children, provide rural populations with basic amenities, and manage increasing urban pressures.
Labeling agriculture as the backbone of the economy, Ahsan Iqbal noted that the number of farming households has grown from 8.3 million to 11.7 million, with 97% owning less than 12.5 acres of land. He stressed the importance of modern agricultural techniques and targeted efforts to boost crop yields, livestock, dairy, meat, and leather industries, while also identifying food security as a future challenge.
He further stated that the government’s top priorities include employment, public service, and problem-solving, and that wider public access to data enables more informed and effective policy decisions.
Ahsan Iqbal concluded by saying the goal is to transform PBS into a national guiding institution that leads Pakistan’s development journey through scientific and evidence-based leadership.
“Census tells us how many we are. Agricultural statistics show how much we produce. Economic data tells us where we should invest. Together, these figures guide our national decisions,” he said, commending PBS’s role in building a data-empowered future.