Islamabad: In a strategic move to improve national data accuracy, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired a meeting with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to outline a five-year plan aimed at advancing the country’s data capabilities and ensuring informed decision-making.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the meeting focused on the creation of a task force comprising PBS senior officials and private sector experts. This group is tasked with drafting Terms of Reference that align with global best practices to drive data-driven decisions. The Minister emphasized the importance of targeting educational initiatives in tehsils with significant numbers of out-of-school children.

Further directives were issued for the facilitation of development data dissemination at the constituency level, which will enable political representatives to improve their districts through informed governance, thereby fostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and responsive governance.

The discussion also highlighted the need to account for Pakistan’s substantial freelancing population in national economic reports, as this sector is currently underrepresented.

Iqbal has instructed the convening of workshops with industry experts to develop a robust framework for future surveys that incorporate diverse feedback, creating a more inclusive data structure.

Moreover, the Minister mandated PBS to prioritize the production of high-quality economic reports that accurately reflect national rankings and address data reporting gaps, with a focus on maintaining the highest standards of data authenticity.

Additionally, Iqbal directed PBS to enhance collaboration with international ranking organizations to provide them with accurate and updated data, ensuring that Pakistan’s national rankings are precise and current.