Islamabad, March 21, 2023 (PPI-OT): Field activities of 7th Population and Housing Census started on 1st March, 2023. Current census is first ever digital census of Pakistan. In addition to Demographic and Housing characteristics data, this digital census has some additional features like geo tagging of all structures and buildings used for residential and economic activities as per international classification which will be utilize as frame to conduct much awaited economic census in the country.
The census data will provide basis for evidence-based policy, planning and decision making to ensure good governance as well as to determine diversity, expansion and share of various economic activities in our country which is pivotal to ensure prosperity of the nation. PBS has planned the census with recommendations of Census Advisory Committee and involvement and consultation of stakeholders for wide acceptability of census results.
It has cleared their concepts regarding census process and has brought their involvement and ownership in census process. PBS is conducting Census after five years’ interval, as per decision of CCI, for the first time, with the use of latest tools and technologies for improved quality of data.
Geotagging, tablet-based data collection and Self-enumeration has built trust of stakeholders in process. PBS has tried to address all the issues identified in Population and Housing Census 2017 in planning of this census.
Further the questionnaire has been drafted by the technical committee of Demographers to fulfil all the objectives of census. PBS with stakeholders has worked day and night for completion of this National cause. Efforts have been made to sensitize all target audiences through awareness campaigns, social media, print and electronic media, community aware programs, outdoor publicity and sensitization workshops.
These confidence building measures have brought awareness about the census process among the masses and eliminated the trust deficit. Self-Enumeration portal remained available from 20th February, 2023 to 10th March, 2023. Through this portal 26,000,00 individuals entered their data. Listing process was started on 1st March and continues till 10th March, 99.5% structures and building have been listed and geo tagged across the country.
The software developed for self-enumeration is user friendly and the enumerators are extensively trained to collect required information. The tabled based Data Collection for enumeration was started on 12th March, 2023 and 40% of enumeration work has been completed which is evident that all Enumeration work will be completed within stipulated deadline of 4th April, 2023 if the census operation continues on the same pace.
No major issue has been witnessed. Minor technical issues that arise in Field are immediately resolved through 495 Census Support Centers, NADRA mobile teams, 37 Working groups and call centres. For quality assurance, the process of Computer Assisted Telephonic Interviews (CATI) has been started through which calls are randomly generated to verify collected data. The snow bound areas of KP, AJK and GB will be enumerated in May, 2023.
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