Uzair bin Farid

Self-enumeration portal has registered 2.6 million citizens after its launch in February 2023. Self-enumeration portal was launched by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to enable citizens to register themselves online for the 7th Population and Housing Census to be conducted online. According to Pakistan Economic Survey 2022-23, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in its 49th meeting of January 2022, on the recommendations of Census Advisory Committee, gave approval for the 7th Population and Housing Census to be carried out using digital assets. The process of data collection for digital census started soon after the approval of the results of 6th census by the CCI carried out in 2017.

It was in the 45th meeting of the CCI that the council gave directions to start conducting the next census as soon as possible. In light of the CCI directions, the PBS liaised with other stakeholders like the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), National Telecom Corporation (NTC), and Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) to conduct the first-ever digital census in Pakistan. In order to conduct the digital census, 495 census support centres (CSCs) were established across the country at census district level. Also, 121,000 new enumerators and supervisors were imparted training to conduct the field operation of the digital census.

They were also provided with 126,000 tablets to collect and upload data for the national database. Similarly, ERP (estimated resident population) system was also developed with 16 modules to work as “census software system.” The inclusion of district administration and provincial authorities has also been ensured so that transparency and engagement of broader stakeholders could be made possible. Self-enumeration portal is an extension of the same effort to carry out the 7th census through digital means. For that effort to be successful, it was imperative that the people register themselves online on a voluntary basis. The registration can be carried out on a household basis where one member of the family can register the number of persons in the whole household.

Under the Pakistan Statistics Act, 2011, Section-8, all data that will be provided by the citizens to the state will be kept confidential and any sharing of data in the public domain will be done through the generation of aggregated statistics. The use of digital means to conduct the population and housing census is still very much in its infancy around the world. The utilisation of digital means to conduct the census indicates that the digitalisation process in Pakistan is continuing apace and that people are willing to respond to digital interventions by the government. Exact knowledge of demographic numbers is essential for the government to devise long-term policies for public benefit. It is only through informed decisions that the government can solve the lingering problems of the economy and human development.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk