Pakistan has taken a historic step toward data-driven policymaking with the launch of its first-ever Economic Census, a nationwide exercise designed to provide comprehensive insights into the country’s economic landscape. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and executed by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), marks a milestone in aligning national development with credible, real-time information.
The Economic Census mapped an extensive 40 million buildings across the country, of which 7.2 million were identified as economic establishments. The exercise paints a clearer picture of Pakistan’s business ecosystem and highlights the scope for formalization, taxation, and targeted investments.
According to official data, the mapped economic establishments include 2.7 million retail businesses, 188,000 wholesale enterprises, 825,000 service shops, 23,000 factories, and 643,000 production units. This extensive mapping underscores the scale of commercial activity across Pakistan compared to the 250,000 companies currently registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). The findings point to a significant opportunity for expanding the formal economy, increasing the tax base, and improving business regulation.
Beyond formal establishments, the census also captured household-level economic activities that are often overlooked in traditional surveys. Nearly 10 million households were identified as being engaged in small-scale enterprises ranging from tailoring and food preparation to livestock and retail trade. Officials noted that recognizing these activities is essential for fostering inclusive economic growth, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities. The data also holds promise for advancing women’s economic participation, as many household-level enterprises are female-led.
The census further documented the country’s social and educational infrastructure. Findings revealed 242,000 schools, 36,000 madrassas, 11,568 colleges, 214 universities, 119,000 health facilities, and more than 600,000 places of worship. Authorities emphasized that this granular dataset will serve as a valuable resource for provincial governments in bridging service delivery gaps, guiding transparent public investment, and enhancing accountability across social sectors.
A key highlight of the initiative is its integration of economic data collection with population census operations, a strategy that not only aligns with international best practices but also saved the government an estimated Rs7 billion in operational costs. Officials stressed that this approach improved efficiency while ensuring higher-quality data.
The Economic Census is expected to play a transformative role in reshaping Pakistan’s development strategy. By providing policymakers with detailed, credible, and timely information, it enables evidence-based decision-making for sustainable growth. Analysts believe the exercise will also strengthen the case for digital transformation in governance, as comprehensive datasets can be leveraged to enhance fiscal planning, improve transparency, and attract domestic and foreign investment.
Experts note that in an era where data is the backbone of economic development, Pakistan’s move toward institutionalizing an Economic Census demonstrates its commitment to aligning with global practices. The findings offer a new lens for understanding the size and scope of economic activity across the country and create pathways for structured reforms.
With its first Economic Census, Pakistan now has the foundation to build an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready economy, one where policymakers, investors, and businesses can make informed choices that support long-term stability and growth.