'All areas will be covered in digital census'

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has reassured stakeholders and the public that the country’s first-of-its-kind digital census will leave no one behind and effectively count minority groups.

According to a statement issued by the bureau, the planned digital population census will cover all provinces of the country without any discrimination.
The body said the digital census aims to give a more accurate picture of its population and streamline the process.

“Concerns stemming from the fear of not being counted are unfounded and unwarranted,” it said.

The PBS added that the matter was approved after lengthy debates as first, it got a nod from the Council of Common Interests (CCI), which has the representation of all provinces.

It required funds worth over Rs20 billion for the whole census process and the government is committed to providing these funds, the bureau said.

The current methodology ensures universal inclusion, which means that everyone living in a location and using resources around that location, regardless of their nationality, geography, ethnicity, identity, political views, caste, or creed, will be counted.

The Census Advisory Committee has given recommendations for ensuring the maintenance of universality across the country in the census process and policy planning was also an objective of the census.

“The world is moving toward greater use of Artificial Intelligence and aimed for faraway planets, but we are stuck here, wondering why the census has been digitised.”

The PBS further stated that the country is making history with the first-ever digital census that not only connected digital activity to a huge level but also took the initiative of launching a self-enumeration portal.

The citizens were asked to fill out their census form through self-enumeration through an already launched portal called the “self-enumeration portal.”
As per PBS data, over 40,000 families have got themselves registered within a short period using this portal.

Moreover, if anyone could not achieve registration within a given deadline, the PBS said, the enumerators will knock on every door to get the data.
The bureau also suggested that instead of spreading negativity, the public should contribute towards the success of the census.

“The data is then logged and mapped in real-time and the whole process is facilitated by a dedicated call centre. Those concerned about the process can monitor the process any time.”

It's worth noting here that the process of door-to-door registration would start from March 1. This would be the first-of-its-kind census in South Asia for which the Bureau has established 495 census support centres.