Islamabad, Oct. 28 -- Pakistan's economic data has increasingly turned into a theatre of illusion where figures are deployed not to reveal but to conceal reality. A pattern of misrepresentation in official economic and trade statistics is eroding policy credibility, investor confidence, and public trust in state institutions, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, inflated growth claims and selective accounting have become routine in Pakistan's economic reporting. Official statements routinely cite GDP growth while overlooking industrial stagnation, mounting unemployment, and structural weaknesses. Frequent changes in base years and sectoral adjustments create an image of resilience that masks deeper fragil...