Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has revised import data worth up to $30 billion on a monthly and annual basis, removing discrepancies that had a substantial impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, top official sources confirmed to The News.
The revision was carried out to comply with conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The PBS has prepared a comprehensive report and submitted it to the Ministry of Finance for publication, and the ministry is expected to make the report public by the end of the current month.
The Ministry of Finance is analyzing the report as part of ongoing efforts to align GDP growth data of the country with IMF standards. The revised figures cover various key sectors of the economy.
The discrepancy in import data first came to light when a wide difference was found between figures reported by the PBS and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
It was initially flagged in trade data with China, and the Prime Minister Office subsequently took notice of the matter. A review found that certain tariff lines had not been calculated by the PBS. Pakistan Single Window and other relevant bodies were then involved to help reconcile the discrepancies.
The IMF later took up the issue and directed the PBS to prepare a comprehensive report by the end of August 2026.
In its last review report, the IMF stated that procedures for import data collection and aggregation are being strengthened following the identification of discrepancies in trade data, and that the PBS will ensure full transparency by publishing a complete set of revised monthly and annual import statistics along with explanations by end-August 2026.
An IMF review mission is expected to visit Pakistan by early September 2026 to undertake the next review under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Officials said the PBS has completed its task, but the report carries far-reaching implications for the economy of the country, prompting the government to review it in detail before releasing it publicly.
