LAHORE: In order to build trust and ensure accuracy of data and results latest available technology will be used in the forthcoming 7th Population and Housing Census 2022.
What would be tagged as first ever Digital Census in Pakistan enumerators would adopt best international practices and Geo tag each structure in the country. A self-enumeration system will also be built enhance trust of stakeholders.
These observations were made by officials of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics at a workshop organized on Tuesday to sensitize researchers, academia, policy makers and the public about the gigantic national activity.
Punjab University Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Chief Statistician Dr Naeem uz Zafar, Focal Person on Digital Census Muhammad Sarwar Gondal, Census Commissioner Dr Amjad
Javaid Sandhu, other directors, senior officers from PBS Islamabad and Lahore, PU College of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences Principal Prof Dr Sohail Chand, Focal Person Punjab for Population Census and DG Bureau of Statistics Punjab Sajid Rasul, representatives of various provincial departments, research institutions, universities, organizations, students and others attended the workshop.
In his address, Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar shed light on the value of Census and Population data in evidence-based decision making and appreciated the working of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics towards the initiation of the first ever digital census in Pakistan.
Dr Mazhar stated that intelligent nations utilize their energies in a wise manner to move forward. He said that the correct facts and figures help utilize resources efficiently. He said that the availability of accurate data helped allocate resources as per requirement and therefore it had got much importance.
Focal person on Digital Census Muhammad Sarwar Gondal in his presentation highlighted the recommendations of Census Advisory Committee for conduct of the 7th Population & Housing Census-2022. He said as per decision of CCI, PBS is going to conduct Census after five years interval. For the first time, latest tools and technologies will be adopted and best international practices would be used to improve quality of data. Geo tagging of each structure, tablet based and self-enumeration system will build trust of stakeholders, he added
A questionnaire has been drafted by the technical committee to address the objectives of the census. All efforts have been made to address the issues identified in Population & Housing Census 2017. He emphasized that involvement of stakeholders will be prioritized by making census process comprehensive for wide acceptability of census results.
