Pakistan will conduct its first-ever digital census in March

Pakistan’s first-ever digital census will collect data from 185,000 blocks in March 2023 without the need for computerized national identity cards (CNICs). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) chief statistician, Dr Naeem Uz Zafar, said Pakistan’s census will be digital this year for the first time in the country’s history.

Pakistan will conduct its first-ever digital census in March

All preparations have been rolled out and the team is now ready for the gigantic job. A 40-item questionnaire, covering eight major areas, will seek information across eight broad areas in the upcoming census. It includes households, basic services, demography, education, health, employment, disability and migration.

Sources revealed that the self-enumeration capability will also be available for the first time. Household geotagging will be done to complete the exercise. There will be 126,000 counters collecting data from 185,000 blocks across the country.

The army personnel will secure 90,000 counters flawlessly. Likewise, police personnel will accompany the counters to provide security in the first phase. Then the military will deploy its Quick Response Force to ensure overall oversight of the flawless security of the entire census exercises across the country.

Each enumerator is responsible for collecting data from two blocks in 30 days March 2023. The PBS has already consulted with the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO). The army showed willingness to spare personnel to provide security.

In addition, the census will take place de jure. However, everyone is counted as he or she stayed for the past six months. Even if they have a plan to stay in the same place for the next six months.

“The PBS has estimated that there will be a total funding requirement of Rs 34 billion for census operations, of which Rs 10 billion has been provided to PBS, while they have requested the Ministry of Finance to release the remaining amount of Rs 24 billion top official sources said.

Also see: WEF Global Risks Report 2023: Pakistan needs to improve cybersecurity measures and digital inequality