Census questionnaire awaits CII approval

Meeting reviews progress on timelines for digital census next year

ISLAMABAD:

The 7th population and housing census next year will be the first-ever digital census in the country, for which the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) was collaborating with various national organisations to complete the gigantic task within the given timeframe.

A review meeting on the census, chaired by Planning Minister Asad Umar, was informed that the PBS was strictly following the timelines to provide the data to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in December 2022 for delimitation purpose before the general election in 2023.

A detailed presentation was given on the census work plan and progress to the meeting, which was attended by the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, chief statistician of the PBS, the focal person on digital census and the director of the Census Planning and Coordination Section.

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The meeting was informed that census-2022 questionnaire had been finalised by a committee and its summary, along with the work plan, had been sent to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for approval.

It was also informed that the cabinet had approved the recommendations of the census advisory committee on October 5 for forwarding them to the CCI. The participants were informed that all major preparatory activities for the census would be completed by end of March next year.

Keeping in view the challenging timelines and gigantic activity of the first-ever digital census, the PBS was collaborating with different national organisations for the provision of services to ensure a successful completion of the census activities.

The collaborating organisations include the National Telecommunication Communication (NTC), the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC).

On the occasion, the minister stressed the need for involving provinces in all the census-related processes. He directed that sensitisation seminars should be held at each provincial headquarter for awareness and broader involvement of all stakeholders.