Islamabad, Pakistan is set to undertake its 7th Agricultural Census in September-October 2024 using an integrated digital count approach, a significant move aimed at enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of data collection on agriculture resources, livestock, and machinery across the country.
According to Press Information Department, this innovative approach, supported by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) under the guidelines of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), combines the three traditional censuses of Agriculture, Livestock, and Agricultural Machinery into a single, comprehensive census. This method reflects the best international practices and is designed to provide credible statistics crucial for policy planning in a country where agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economy and sustains a significant portion of the population.
The PBS has planned this census following the successful completion of the 7th Population and Housing Census, which was the first-ever digital census conducted in the country. The Agricultural Census aims to provide benchmark data essential for policy-making to meet the food and fiber needs of Pakistan’s populace, which exceeds 241 million.
To ensure broad involvement and acceptance, the PBS has engaged with partner organizations and provincial stakeholders, including the Board of Revenue, Agriculture (Extension) departments, Livestock departments, Provincial Bureaus of Statistics, and Crop Reporting Services. These collaborations are intended to incorporate diverse perspectives, identify needs, and address potential issues to ensure the provision of reliable agriculture data.
A series of provincial meetings have been held to discuss and plan the census operations, with the latest meeting taking place in Peshawar. During these meetings, the importance of agriculture to Pakistan’s GDP and employment, as well as the significant contribution of the livestock sector, were highlighted. The integrated digital census aims to capture detailed information on land, crops, livestock, and machinery, employing advanced digital tools for data collection, including tablet-based applications, digitized maps, SMS gateways, and call centers.
The PBS has established 157 Census Support Centers equipped with digital technology and has deployed divisional and district census coordinators for technical guidance and operational management. Training for census staff will utilize ICT materials and interactive videos/audios to ensure standardization of concepts.
This ambitious project represents a landmark effort in utilizing digital technology for agricultural data collection in Pakistan, promising to significantly improve the availability and quality of agricultural statistics for evidence-based policy planning. The provincial stakeholders have expressed their support for this crucial national task, underscoring its importance for the country’s future.
Washington D.C, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, has called for a strengthened partnership between Pakistan and the United States across various sectors, including security cooperation and economic engagement. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on “The Future of Pakistan and the U.S.-Pakistan Relations,” Ambassador Khan laid out a vision for a deepened bilateral relationship grounded in mutual interests and respect.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the event, which saw participation from think tank members, former ambassadors, and opinion makers, both in person and online, served as a platform for Ambassador Khan to highlight the progress made in fostering closer ties between the two countries over the past two years. He emphasized the importance of bilateral trade, noting that the U.S. remains Pakistan’s largest single-country export destination, and pointed to successful engagements such as the U.S.–Pakistan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) ministerial meeting.
Ambassador Khan highlighted Pakistan’s economic potential, citing its rank as the 24th largest economy by purchasing power parity (PPP) and its status as the fifth most populous country with a youthful demographic. He underscored the rapid digitization of Pakistan’s economy and its tech-savvy populace, pointing to significant investment opportunities for American investors in sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and artificial intelligence.
Outlining Pakistan’s strategic priorities, including wealth creation, human capital development, and modernization of key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing, Khan invited international partners to leverage Pakistan’s strategic economic position in West Asia. He emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to investment, particularly in IT, agriculture, energy, and critical minerals, highlighting Pakistan’s rich reserves of copper, gold, lithium, rare earth elements, magnesium, and cobalt.
On the topic of security, Ambassador Khan referenced a recent UN report outlining the threat posed by terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to regional stability. He stressed the importance of a coordinated strategy to combat terrorism and called for American support in restoring military sales and financing to maintain strategic balance and address security challenges.
The Ambassador also addressed geopolitical considerations, advocating for stability and cooperation in South Asia and emphasizing the need for diplomatic resolutions to issues like Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with international law. He expressed optimism about the future of Pak-US relations, highlighting ongoing dialogues and the potential for fruitful outcomes.
The event concluded with Ambassador Khan thanking U.S. think tanks and experts for their support of stronger bilateral relations, underlined by a commitment to diplomacy, security cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. Former ambassador Robin Raphel and CSIS Senior Vice President Daniel Runde also offered insights, emphasizing the importance of understanding Pakistan as a key partner and addressing its security needs.