Statistical systems need to be aligned with data standards used by IMF, World Bank: experts

Experts at a conference in Islamabad on Tuesday urged Pakistan to bring its statistical systems closer to standards used by the IMF and World Bank. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Director Rizwan Bashir advocated adopting the SDMX framework, saying consistent datasets could improve information exchange, international comparisons and the speed of analysis.

Speakers also called for combining government records with surveys and applying machine learning while protecting data integrity. Former Chief Statistician Naeem uz Zafar said the digital census had mapped more than 40 million structures, which could support planning when combined with other datasets. Planning Secretary Dr Muhammad Tahir Noor said technology should be judged by its contribution to productivity, opportunities and public services, while participants highlighted data access, skills and geospatial planning.