SEED and LUMS introduced a game-changing way to measure economic activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—using satellite images of nighttime lights. Brighter lights mean more economic activity, offering insights into urbanisation, industrialisation, employment, and poverty. This first-of-its-kind study in Pakistan helped estimate district-level GDP, track economic growth in cities, and provide a clearer picture of KP’s overall economy.

To make sure these insights keep driving better decisions, SEED trained government officials to analyse nightlights data themselves, making GDP estimation faster, easier, and more affordable. Traditional surveys would have cost PKR 293 million, but this approach was completed for just PKR 5.3 million—without needing expensive data collection.

By introducing this innovative method, SEED has helped KP embrace data-driven policymaking, making economic planning smarter and more efficient for years to come.