Number of Hotels in Pakistan Surpasses Hospitals: PBS Releases First Economic Census 2023

Islamabad: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has released detailed findings of the country’s first Economic Census 2023, revealing significant insights into religious, educational, and business institutions across the country.

According to *Express News*, the report discloses that Pakistan is home to 600,403 mosques and 36,331 religious seminaries (madrasas). The total number of educational institutions stands at 326,868, including 242,000 schools, 11,568 colleges, and 214 universities.

Strikingly, the census reveals that the number of **hotels in Pakistan exceeds that of hospitals**, with **256,000 hotels** compared to **119,789 hospitals** across the country.

The report also highlights that **95% of business entities in Pakistan employ fewer than 10 people**. The total number of business establishments and shops exceeds 7 million, with the wholesale and retail sector dominating with 2.9 million entities. Of these, **2.7 million are retail outlets**, while **188,000 are wholesale businesses**.

In the agricultural, forestry, and fishing sectors, there are over **1.1 million institutions**, while the **service sector comprises more than 945,000 entities**, including **825,000 service shops** and **23,000 factories**.

The manufacturing sector is also significant, with **643,000 production shops** and **696,558 manufacturing units** recorded.

The report further notes the existence of **over 16,565 hostels** and **123,937 human health and social work organizations**. Additionally, **29,836 public sector organizations** are operating across the country.

This comprehensive census provides a foundational understanding of Pakistan’s economic infrastructure and institutional distribution.