Pakistan implements IMF’s portal to publish economic data as bailout package become more likely

The incumbent government once wanted to distance themselves from IMF but it has now adopted an IMF recommendation. A recent IMF press release reads “Pakistan has now implemented IMF’s enhanced General Data Dissemination System (e-GDDS) by publishing critical data through the National Summary Data Page (NSDP).”

IMF made e-GDDS in 2015 with the aims of improving data transparency, encourage statistical development while elevating systems for data dissemination and surveillance.

Pakistan will now publish all of its critical economic data through a portal run by Finance minister called National Summary Data Page (NSDP). The “one-stop publication vehicle” should provide with insights into various things including macro-economic data, government operations, and debt.

Pakistan’s Bureau of Statistics will be managing the NSDP. Ministry of Finance, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, and the State Bank of Pakistan will publish their data on NSDP. The information will be available on IMF’s Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board.

IMF states that the publication of macroeconomic data through NSDP will provide transparent data to investors, international stakeholders and rating agencies. It will also make it easier to monitor economic conditions and policies.

Louis Marc Ducharme, Chief Statistician and Data Officer, and Director of the IMF’s Statistics Department said, “I am confident that Pakistan will benefit from using the e-GDDS as a framework for further development of its statistical system.”

The announcement only reminds us that the government plans on taking the bailout package from IMF. If they do so it will be the second time in five years and the 22nd time since 1947 that Pakistan has taken a bailout package.

The full press release can be found here and Pakistan’s NSDP can be viewed from the following link.