ISLAMABAD:

In the realm of economics, numbers are meant to illuminate truth. Yet, in Pakistan, they increasingly cast shadow. From trade balances to growth rates, official statistics have become a battleground of narratives, where figures are not merely data points but instruments of persuasion. Misrepresentation of economic and trade accounts is no longer a peripheral concern; it is a systemic malaise undermining policy, investor confidence, and public trust.

Misrepresentation in Pakistan's economic reporting assumes several guises. Firstly, the inflated growth narratives; official communiques often trumpet GDP growth while glossing over structural weaknesses. Adjustments in base years and selective inclusion of sectors create an illusion of resilience even as unemployment surges and in

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