Islamabad:In a landmark move, Planning Minister Prof. Ahsan Iqbal has spearheaded a strategic five-year plan to transform Pakistan’s data landscape. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) will establish a high-powered task force, comprising top officials and private sector experts, to craft a blueprint for data-driven decision making.
The Minister emphasized the urgent need for accurate data, directing PBS to identify areas with high numbers of out-of-school children and facilitate development data dissemination at the constituency level. This move aims to empower political representatives to make informed decisions, fostering a culture of ownership and accountability.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of capturing Pakistan’s thriving digital economy, including the freelancing sector, and instructed PBS to collaborate with industry experts to develop a robust framework for future surveys.
Moreover, the Minister stressed the need for high-quality economic reports, accurate national rankings, and international collaboration to ensure precise rankings. Comparative analyses with international organizations in the UK, Canada, and Turkey will also be undertaken to integrate best practices into PBS’s frameworks.
The Chief Statistician, Dr. Naeem uz Zaman, acknowledged PBS’s limitations in analyzing big data, and proposals were discussed to reform the organization and develop its capability to draw insights from big data sets.
This bold initiative promises to revolutionize Pakistan’s data landscape, enabling informed decision-making and driving progress.
