Pakistan’s government has approved a major update to its national accounts framework by changing the base year to 2025–26 from 2015–16, ending a gap of nearly ten years and opening the door for a fresh calculation of the country’s gross domestic product that better reflects changes in the economy.
The decision will allow authorities to include newly emerged businesses, remove firms that have shut down, and revise sector-wise weights used to measure economic growth. According to reports, the scope of the project has been expanded, pushing its estimated cost up to Rs903.4 million from Rs608 million. The expansion includes 12 additional surveys, largely focused on capturing the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Pakistan last rebased its national accounts in 2015–16, replacing the earlier 2005–06 benchmark. Under the new plan, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics will carry out 52 surveys and studies, up from the 46 originally planned. These exercises will improve estimates of GDP, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), and key expenditure components.
The updated framework will broaden coverage across major sectors, including agriculture, industry, energy, construction, and services. Authorities will also revise price deflators and input-output ratios, strengthen the implementation of the System of National Accounts 2008, and introduce a Producer Price Index (PPI) into Pakistan’s statistical system for the first time.
In addition, the rebasing exercise will help evaluate sector-wise investment through updated GFCF estimates and allow the inclusion of new indicators such as natural capital accounts. A feasibility study to establish a Statistical Research and Training Institute has also been included in the revised project.
By modernizing its statistical base, Pakistan aims to present a more accurate picture of its economic size and performance, improve policy planning, and align its data systems with international standards, which could help strengthen confidence among investors, businesses, and development partners.
