By Khalid Khattak
Welcome to the fourth episode of Data Discoveries!
Government departments regularly release reports and publications that serve as valuable sources of data and information for storytelling. These documents offer journalists the opportunity to access detailed insights, statistics, and trends that can be used to craft compelling narratives and support investigative reporting with solid data.
In this episode, we’ll dive into how journalists, particularly those focused on data journalism and investigative reporting, can analyze and make the most of the Annual Analytical Report on External Trade Statistics of Pakistan FY-2023 which has been prepared by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and is available online. You can also download the report from the link provided at the end of this episode.
By exploring the structure and content of the report, journalists can leverage it as a valuable tool for investigative stories, uncovering trade issues and offering detailed analysis for their readers. While it’s especially useful for commerce reporters, we believe it holds equal importance for those covering foreign policy, international relations, and related areas.
One key feature of the report is its detailed record of Pakistan's annual external trade data since 1947, specifically highlighting the financial volumes of imports, exports, and the balance of trade for each year.
This data offers valuable opportunities for in-depth analysis. Journalists can use it to explore how different political or dictatorial regimes influenced trade policies, highlighting government priorities over the years. By examining the years when exports surged, one can investigate the policies, global market conditions, or economic reforms that led to those improvements. Similarly, the data allows us to delve into why imports were higher in certain years, identifying factors such as domestic production challenges, international trade agreements, or shifts in demand for foreign goods.
The report also provides insights into the top countries for exports and imports, along with the financial volumes of trade for each. It details the leading commodities in both exports and imports, offering journalists a valuable resource. On the export side, journalists can investigate the major players in international trade by examining the key export commodities listed in the report. Similarly, the information on top import commodities allows for exploration into the major goods entering the country and the countries supplying them.
Journalists can explore several angles from this information on Pakistan's major export and import partners. For exports, they can investigate the trade dynamics with key destinations like the United States, China, and the United Kingdom, analyzing how these relationships have developed and what goods are in demand. They could also examine shifts in trade patterns over the years and how geopolitical events or trade policies have influenced exports to these regions.
For imports, journalists could look into Pakistan’s heavy reliance on China and the UAE, investigating the types of goods imported and the economic or political factors driving these partnerships. Additionally, they could explore the impact of trade with Gulf countries and how oil, machinery, or other key imports influence Pakistan’s economy.
These are just a few angles to consider, but there are certainly many more insights to uncover once you dive into the full report. We encourage you to download the report and explore it yourself to find additional stories and opportunities for deeper analysis.
Download the report from here.
