ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) began field operations for the 7th Agricultural Census on Wednesday, utilizing digital tools to gather critical data aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and food security. The launch event in Islamabad saw Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal distribute tablets to trained enumerators, highlighting the role of technology in ensuring accurate and efficient data collection.
The census, which runs from January 1 to February 10, 2025, will involve 7,686 trained enumerators and supervisors. The data collected will be crucial for shaping policies on food security, resource management, and enhancing agricultural productivity. Results are expected to be compiled by August.
The initiative, carried out in collaboration with federal and provincial governments, academic institutions, and relevant departments, will provide valuable insights into Pakistan’s agricultural landscape. Minister Iqbal emphasized that agriculture is the backbone of the economy, contributing significantly to GDP, exports, and employment. He noted that the census data would help create policies that address challenges such as crop patterns, resource management, and food security.
Iqbal also praised the use of modern technology, including GIS systems for real-time monitoring, which would enable more targeted interventions and efficient resource allocation. The initiative aims to align Pakistan’s agricultural practices with global standards and boost food security.
In various provinces, similar launch ceremonies took place. In Lahore, Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman emphasized Punjab’s role in national agriculture, contributing 24% to GDP and managing 29.4 million acres of cultivated land. In Karachi, Sindh’s Planning Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah highlighted the province’s significant contributions to crops like cotton, rice, and sugarcane. In Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Agriculture Minister Sajjad Barakwal noted that agriculture employs a large portion of the province’s population, underscoring the census’s importance for resource allocation and productivity improvement.
Additionally, the census was launched in Bajaur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and other districts, with the goal of documenting agricultural land, livestock, and machinery. Local officials in these areas stressed the importance of accurate data for planning and the development of the agricultural sector.
PBS officials emphasized the extensive training provided to enumerators and the use of digital tools to streamline data collection. The census is seen as a major step towards modernizing Pakistan’s agricultural practices and supporting the farming community’s sustainable growth.
