Pakistan Enhances Data-Driven Governance Through UN-Backed Workshop

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The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to launch a three-day capacity-building workshop in Peshawar, equipping government professionals with advanced data interpretation skills. This initiative marks a strategic push toward evidence-based policymaking as Pakistan accelerates efforts to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The training brings together planners, statisticians, and development professionals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s key departments, focusing on practical applications of demographic, social, and economic data. Participants will work with real datasets from major PBS surveys including the Population and Housing Census, Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM), Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES), and Labour Force Survey (LFS). PBS facilitators will demonstrate techniques for data visualization and the preparation of critical planning documents (PC-I, PC-IV, PC-V) used in development projects.

Muhammad Sarwar Gondal, PBS Senior Member and Sitara-i-Imtiaz awardee, emphasized the workshop’s role in strengthening institutional capacity. “Accurate data interpretation is the foundation of effective governance,” he stated, urging full participation from stakeholders. The sessions align with Pakistan’s national vision to replace anecdotal decision-making with empirical analysis, particularly in resource allocation and policy evaluation.

This collaboration signals Pakistan’s commitment to modernizing its bureaucratic processes through technical upskilling. As the country faces complex developmental challenges, from population growth to economic stabilization, such initiatives aim to bridge the gap between data collection and actionable insights. The workshop’s outcomes will be closely monitored for potential nationwide replication, potentially transforming how provincial and federal agencies harness statistics for public benefit.