KARACHI:
Pakistan is about to kick off its 7th Housing and Population Census. This will be the first digital census in history conducted by officials who are certain that, apart from opening new ways of data collection practices in the era of digitalisation, the new process will also improve transparency, credibility and acceptability.
Scores of enumerators will start knocking the doors of the 5th most populous nation in the world for a headcount by using computer tablets that will act as a tool to help codify massive amounts of data. Citizens will be counted based on their residence from the last six months without the condition of having a CNIC. Moreover, the process will be monitored through geo-fencing and GIS mapping. A timely stipulated digitalised census would definitely be an important resource for further research and development.
But while attempting to transform the traditional method of Pen-and-Paper Personal Interview (PAPI) in which enumerators fill in questionnaire on paper to a Computer-Assisted-Personal Interview (CAPI) in which questionnaires are filled with the help of a digital tablet, there is a desperate need of spreading awareness about the census process. The masses should be well aware of the technology being used in order to increase the level of trust. They should be informed that their personal data gathered during the census will be kept strictly confidential and will be used for no other purpose except for the census.
Neelam Yasir
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2022.
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