The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has released the results of the 7th Agriculture Census, conducted in 2024, revealing a dramatic 89 percent increase in the country's total livestock population over the past 18 years. The census shows that the number of animals in the sector has nearly doubled compared to the previous census.
Key Findings by Species
The buffalo population has grown by 75 percent, while the number of goats has risen by 78 percent, reaching 95.830 million. The census also recorded a 140 percent increase in the number of dairy cows and a 111 percent rise in dairy buffaloes over the last 18 years.
Economic and Policy Implications
Officials said the livestock sector continues to play a key role in Pakistan's agricultural economy by supporting rural employment, strengthening food security and contributing to the country's overall economic growth. They added that the introduction of a digital census system will help improve planning and support more informed policymaking for the agriculture and livestock sectors.
