Census data to be used to assess flood losses

The federal government has decided to use data from the population census, agricultural census, and economic census to assess human, agricultural, and economic losses caused by recent rains and floods.

Population and agriculture census data will help estimate damage to households and crops. Economic census data will help assess business and infrastructure losses while geo-tagging will be used to identify destruction of schools, colleges, mosques, and commercial centers.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has directed the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to begin work, with a pilot project launched in Narowal district, the native city of Ahsan Iqbal.

Agriculture census is a large-scale survey conducted by the government to collect detailed information about farming activities, including land use, crop production, livestock, irrigation methods, and the number and size of farms.

Economic census is a comprehensive survey that gathers data on all economic activities within a country, such as industries, businesses, services, and employment. It captures information about the size, structure, and performance of the economy.

Geo-tagging is the process of attaching geographical location data such as latitude and longitude to objects, photographs, or assets using digital technology.

It helps identify the exact location of resources, infrastructure, or activities, and is widely used in censuses, disaster management, urban planning, and environmental monitoring.