Pakistan’s Statistical Smokescreen: Economic Data Under Scrutiny

Pakistan's economic data is increasingly perceived as a theater of illusion, where figures are manipulated to obscure rather than illuminate reality, according to a report by The Express Tribune. A pattern of misrepresentation in official statistics is reportedly diminishing policy credibility, eroding investor confidence, and undermining public trust in state institutions.

The Express Tribune highlights that inflated growth claims and selective accounting have become the norm, with official reports emphasizing GDP growth while ignoring industrial stagnation, rising unemployment, and structural vulnerabilities. Frequent changes in base years and sectoral adjustments paint a picture of resilience that conceals deeper issues.

Discrepancies in trade data, such as an $11 billion gap in import reporting due to incomplete systems integration, have distorted trade balances. Omissions have facilitated tax evasion and money laundering. The Economic Census 2024 has faced criticism for excluding the informal sector, which undermines its credibility.

Experts caution that data manipulation could have severe implications, from misguided fiscal policies to flawed trade regulations, compromising investor trust and fueling skepticism among global lenders. The government's resistance to IMF scrutiny on a reported $30 billion trade gap further underscores the fragility of official figures, as highlighted by The Express Tribune. (ANI)