CM Balochistan Inaugurates 7th Agricultural Census with GIS Technology for Improved Data Collection

Quetta:On Wednesday, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sardarfaraz Bugti, officially launched the 7th Agricultural Census using GIS (Geographic Information System) technology via a GIS dashboard. The inauguration ceremony was attended by several provincial ministers, including Mir Ali Hassan Zehri, Mir Mohammad Sadiq Umarani, Mir Asim Kurd Gello, Mir Saleem Khan Khoso, Sardar Kohyar Khan Domki, Bakht Mohammad Kakr, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, and other key figures such as the Provincial Secretary of Agriculture, Ali Akbar Baloch, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, and representatives from Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

During his address, Chief Minister Mir Sardarfaraz Bugti emphasized that agriculture and livestock are the backbone of both Pakistan’s and Balochistan’s economy. He pointed out that accurate and multifaceted statistics are essential for policy-making to address challenges faced by farmers, allocate resources efficiently, and improve crop production.

The Chief Minister instructed the provincial secretaries of the relevant departments to ensure that the agricultural census data is verified at the local level to prevent unverified information from being included in the statistical process. He further mentioned that the Balochistan government, in collaboration with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, would work together to formulate data-driven agricultural policies.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to empowering farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural development in Balochistan, CM Bugti stated that this initiative would play a crucial role in ensuring food security, improving the welfare of farmers, and strengthening the agricultural sector in the province. He added that this statistical endeavor, through federal and provincial cooperation, would serve as a milestone for policy-making in the agricultural sector.

Additionally, the Chief Minister assured that the Balochistan government would take solid actions for farmers’ welfare and agricultural progress based on the collected data, in collaboration with relevant institutions.

Dr. Naveed Iqbal, the Joint Census Commissioner of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, also spoke at the event and highlighted the steps taken for the agricultural census. He shared that Balochistan covers 7.12 million acres of agricultural land, with major crops such as wheat, rice, and cotton contributing significantly to the national production. The use of GIS and modern digital tools has enhanced the efficiency of this statistical campaign. Under the agricultural census, 1,004 trained enumerators across Balochistan will collect vital agricultural data, with the final results expected to be compiled by August 2025.

The event was also attended by the head of the Balochistan Bureau of Statistics, Syed Roohullah, and PBS System Analyst, Momina Babar.