ISLAMABAD: The results of Pakistan’s most recent Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) 2024–2025 have been released. The government has described it as a significant step toward data-driven policymaking and economic recovery. At a ceremony in Islamabad on January 1, 2026, Ahsan Iqbal, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, unveiled the survey. Key stakeholders, members of the Technical Committee, and senior officers from the Ministry of Planning and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) attended the event, which was hosted by Chief Statistician Dr. Naeem uz Zafar (SI), Muhammad Sarwar Gondal (SI), Member (SS/RM), and Ms. Rabia Awan DDG (PSLM/PCS).
An important milestone in Pakistan’s national data ecosystem has been reached with PBS’s completion and release of the HIES 2024–25 results. The survey, which has been approved by the Technical Committee, offers thorough insights into the nation’s social and economic circumstances and is an essential instrument for evidence-based planning and policymaking. Following the Digital Population and Housing Census of 2023, the HIES 2024–25 is the nation’s first totally digital household survey, according to PBS. By June 2025, it was finished by quarterly field operations utilizing an integrated digital administration and monitoring system, covering 32,000 households nationally. Digital access has significantly improved, according to the poll. The percentage of households with smartphones or mobile phones has increased to 96%, and the percentage of households with internet connection has increased from 34% to 70%. The percentage of people who use the internet has more than tripled to 57%. Indicators of health and education also gradually improve. Neonatal mortality has decreased from 41 to 35 fatalities per 1,000 live births, while gender parity at the primary school level has grown from 92 to 96 percent. The overall fertility rate dropped from 3.7 to 3.6 children per woman, while infant mortality fell from 60 to 47 per 1,000 live births. 38% of houses now use cleaner fuels, such as natural gas, LPG, biogas, solar energy, and electricity.
Regarding the economy, PBS stated that household income and consumption have increased. At 37%, food makes up the greatest portion of household expenditures, followed by housing and fuel at 26%. At the national level, additional significant costs include lodging and dining (6.63%), apparel and shoes (6.28%), and transportation (6.21%). Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister said that it is a very positive development that the Ministry of Planning and PBS have successfully evolved into contemporary, data-driven organizations. He pointed out that the Planning Ministry is enhancing its analytical capabilities and methodically removing long-standing institutional backlogs. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that Pakistan’s first-ever digital population census was a significant national accomplishment, followed by the successfully completed Digital Agriculture Census and the Economic Survey of Pakistan.
He maintained that previous global shocks like the Covid-19 outbreak and inadequate planning had hindered economic growth and disproportionately impacted the middle class. He expressed confidence that Pakistan could reach about 4 percent GDP growth in the current fiscal year, though, and claimed the nation was now on a path to recovery. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the importance of addressing what he called a “education emergency,” pointing out that some 25 million youngsters are still not in school. He urged governmental stability and policy continuity to maintain advancement and stated that nearly universal literacy was necessary for long-term growth. PBS emphasized at the event’s end that HIES 2024–25 shows notable advancements in household income, digital access, health, and education.
