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Population & Housing Census-2023 The PES enumerators and supervisors who were selected from the Digital Census -2023 staff, were assigned new blocks during the PES field activities in order to ensure independence of the survey. To further ensure that the PES field staff was well -prepared, they underwent a refresher course and were equipped with the training materials, including a comprehensive manual. The manual was designed with the PES objectives in mind and provided clear guidelines on understanding the objectives, methodology, and techniques of the survey. Figure 1.8: Training of Enumerators for the PES Field Activities
The PES field operation lasted for a total of 12 days. On the 8 th of July 2023, the PES field operation was commenced with clear instructions to the enumerators to conduct listing and enumeration as separate activities. The initial three days of the PES field operation were dedicated to listing, while the remaining nine days were allocated for enumeration. To ensure comprehensive and accurate coverage, SUPARCO maps of the blocks were provided to the enumerators in both electronic form on their Tablets and in hard copy. Enumerators were instructed to assign a unique PES number to each structure within the selected block, regardless of the numbering used in the census. For example, structures were labeled as PES 001, PES 002, and so forth. Each enumerator was required to enumerate only one PES block. During the PES field activities, it was crucial to ensure safety and trust of the enumerators, as they faced resistance from respondents who were skeptical due to isolated incidents reported in the media. To address this, man-to-man security was provided to the enumerators, not only for their protection but also to encourage better response rates. The main census field operation had previously suffered from non - response and less coverage, largely attributed to the lack of security measures. Recognizing this , it was imperative to prioritize the provision of man-to-man security for the field staff during the PES, in order to achieve more accurate and reliable results. 1.6 Finalization and Approval of Final Results Census is the 9 th subject of the Federal Legislative List Part -II and according to the Article 154 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) is entrusted with the responsibility of formulating and regulating policies pertaining to matters in Part -II of the
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Population & Housing Census-2023
Federal Legislative List. Additionally, the CCI is also responsible for exercising supervision and control
over the relevant institutions.
Accordingly, the final summary results of the 7th Population and Housing Census -2023 were
compiled by factoring in the findings of the Post Enumeration Survey and submitted for the approval of
CCI on 2 nd August, 2023. In its 50 th meeting held on 5 th August, 2023, the CCI considered the final
summary results and unanimously approved the results of 7 th Population and Housing Census-2023, as
follows:
“The CCI considered the Summary titled “Results of 7 th Population and Housing
Census-2023 (The Digital Census)” dated 2 nd August, 2023, submitted by Ministry of
Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and unanimously approved the results
of 7 th Population and Housing Census -2023 (The Digital Census), as mentioned in
Annex-V of the Summary and reproduced at para-7 above, for publication and for use
/ information of general public.”
Figure 1.9: Clips from 50th Meeting of CCI Held on 5th August, 2023
The official announcement for the final results of the Digital Census-2023 was made on 7th August, 2023 through the gazette notification. Table 1.5 below provides a breakdown of the population and average annual growth rates for each province, as well as a comparison of Digital Census-2023 with the previous censuses conducted during 1998 and 20 17. Similarly, for a further comparison purpose, Figure 1.10 depicts the average annual growth rates observed for Pakistan, the four provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory (excluding FATA) during the last six censuses held in the country.2
2 In Pakistan, since the country gained independence in 1947, six population and housing censuses have prior been conducted at various intervals. These censuses took place in 1951, 1961, 1972, 1981, 1998, and 2017.
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Population & Housing Census-2023 Table 1.5: Population and Annual Growth Rates for Census-1998, 2017 and 2023
Region/ Province Population (Million Nos.) Annual Growth Rate (%) 1998 2017 2023 1998 2017 2023 Pakistan 132.35 207.68 241.49 2.69 2.40 2.55 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 20.92 35.50 40.85 2.72 2.82 2.38 Punjab 73.62 109.98 127.68 2.64 2.13 2.53 Sindh 30.44 47.85 55.69 2.80 2.41 2.57 Balochistan 6.57 12.34 14.89 2.47 3.37 3.20 Islamabad 0.81 2.01 2.36 5.19 4.91 2.81 Figure 1.10: Average Annual Growth Rates Observed During the Last Six Censuses
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Population & Housing Census-2023 It is pertinent to mention here that in this census there due to access issues in the sensitive restricted areas and some collective residences only head counts were provided, therefore the detailed tables except gender, urban/ rural will for 240,458,089 as detailed characteristics were not provided for 1,041,342. Figure 1.11 portrays the population share trends at the provincial level and for Islamabad Capital Territory during all the Population and Housing censuses conducted in the country. It is evident that the share of Punjab has consistently declined over the years. For instance, in the 1951 census, Punjab accounted for 60.9% of the population, but this figure decreased to 52.9% during the Digital Census-2023. The decline in Punjab's share can be attributed towards the historic relatively higher population growth observed in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. During this period, the population share of Sindh increased from 17.9% to 23.1%, while Balochistan's share grew from 3.5% to 6.2%. On the other hand, Islamabad Capital Territory experienced a moderate increas e in its share, approximately 0.7% during the same period.
Figure 1.11: Trends observed in Provincial Shares
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Population & Housing Census-2023 1.7 Engagement of Media In regard to communication strategy for 7th Population and Housing Census-2023, the Census Advisory Committee reviewed previous practices in Pakistan, as well as other developed and developing countries. Based on their findings, they recommended initiation of an early and impactful awareness campaign during the census implementation process. This campaign was to be designed to ensure clear communication regarding the importance of the census, comprehensive description of the entire census process, duration of the census field enumeration, and to address any lingering ambiguity, particularly among groups who had not agreed with the previous census results. The ultimate goal was to foster cooperation and seek their participation in the census. Furthermore, over the past decade or so, the rise of popular social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube has paved the way for a new era of global digital interaction. These platforms have revolutionized the way people connect and communicate, breaking down geographical barriers. They have become instrumental in the rapid dissemination of information, enabling widespread sharing of news, trends, and ideas on an unprecedented scale. Additionally, the social media is also providing platform for individuals to express their opinions, share experiences, and engage in discussions, thereby fostering a sense of community and inclusivity.
PBS, in conjunction with a comprehensive print and electronic media campaign, engaged based on their impressive presentation and creative work expertise of a social media advertising firm. Since the beginning of the Digital Census activities, the firm has successfully handled PBS's online presence across six prominent social media platforms, including Facebook and X (previously known as Twitter), and consistently excelled in effective spreading of census-related news and information to a wider audience.
Figure 1.12: PBS’s Social Media Platforms
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Population & Housing Census-2023 2 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF ISLAMABAD
Islamabad, meaning 'the abode of Islam' is the capital city of Pakistan. The city is located in the North West of the country on Potohar Plateau. This area has been significant in history for being a part of the crossroads of the Rawalpindi and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The city has a history going back to the earliest human habitations in Asia having the first settlement of Aryans from Central Asia, ancient caravans passing from Central Asia, and the massive armies of Tamerlane and Alexander. Due to Islamabad's proximity to Rawalpindi, these are considered as twin cities. The decision to shift the capital from Karachi to Islamabad was taken in President Ayub Khan's regime when it was considered pertinent to locate the capital city to a place where it could be isolated from the business and commercial activity of the Karachi , and yet would be easily accessible from the remotest corner of the country. After extensive research, feasibility studies and a thorough review of various sites, it was recommended that the North East of the historic garrison city of Rawalpindi would be a suitable place. The final decision was taken by the National Cabinet to devi se a master plan based on a grid system, with its north facing the Margallah Hills. The long -term plan was that Islamabad would eventually encompass Rawalpindi entirely, stretching to the West of the historic Grand Trunk Road (Capital Development Authority 2017). The city was established as the capital of Pakistan in 1960 to replace Karachi and has been functioning as capital since 1963. Unlike other cities in Pakistan, Islamabad is a planned city and made up of 505 square kilometers of urban land and 401 square kilometers of rural land. The city is located within the wider Islamabad Capital Territory which includes the 906 square kilometers of Islamabad as well as a further 3626 kilometers square of land known as specified area. The specified area includes the Margalla Hills to the North and to the North East, much of which is a National Park. The terrain in the metropolitan area of Islamabad consists of plains and mountains. Three general physiographic zones trend generally East-Northeast. The northern part of the metropolitan area lies in the mountainous terrain of the Margala Hills, a part of the lower and outer Himalayas, which also includes the Hazara and Kala Chitta Ranges. The Margalla Hills, which reach 1,600 metres altitude near Islamabad, consist of many ridges of Jurassic through Eocene limestones and shales that are complexly thrusted , folded, and generally overturned. South of the Margalla Hills is a southward -sloping piedmont bench underlain primarily by folded sandstones and shales of the Rawalpindi Group (Miocene). GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERITORY(ICT)
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Population & Housing Census-2023
The piedmont area also includes many ridges and valleys that have been buried by alluvial deposits from
the hills. Buried ridges of sandstone are generally covered by interbedded sandy silt and limestone gravel
that locally exceed 200 m in thickness; these deposits, in turn, have been dissected and then buried under
a layer of eolian loess and reworked silt that locally exceeds a thickness of 40 m. The gravel and loess
are especially important to the environmental geology because they form most of the build ing
foundations and because gravel is the primary ground-water aquifer. To West of Rawalpindi is plains of
thick, easily eroded loess which are extensively dissected into shallow badland valleys, and to the East
of Rawalpindi, the folded ridges of Rawalpin di Group rocks rise above the alluvial cover to form
prominent hills. Urban development is concentrated in the piedmont bench area, which is little dissected
in its Northern part, where Islamabad is located, but is more deeply dissected toward the South near the
Soan River, where Rawalpindi is located In the Southernmost part of the area, the Soan River valley
extends generally along the axis of the Soan syncline at an altitude of about 425 m. The Soan is incised
more than 40 m below the level of extensive silt-covered plains North and South of the river. To the
South East of Rawalpindi, upstream from the Grand Trunk Road bridge, the Soan channel and flood
plain extend 1.5 kilometers (km) across the valley floor. Elsewhere, the valley bottom is much narrower.
Beds of fluvial sandstone, mudstone, and conglomerate of the Siwalik Group of Neogene to Pleistocene
age underlie the southern area and crop out along the many steep -sided stream valleys that dissect the
land. The beds dip steeply on the North limb of th e syncline North of the Soan River, and more gently
on the South limb. The piedmont bench and Soan valley make up the Northern edge of the Potwar
Plateau.
Islamabad nestles against the backdrop of the
Margalla Hills at the northern end of Potohar
Plateau. Its climate is healthy, pollution free,
plentiful in water resources and lush green. It is a
modern and carefully planned city with wide roads
and avenues, elegant public buildings, and well -
organized bazaars, markets, and shopping centers.
Being a clean, spacious and quiet city with lots of
greenery and scenic view, it is called- 'Islamabad the
Beautiful' having the range of the Margalla Hills to
the north of the city. Hot summers, monsoon rains
and cold winters with sparse snowfall in the hills summarize the climate of this area. Islamabad also has
a rich wildlife ranging from wild boars to leopards. The city is divided into eight basic zones:
Administrative, diplomatic enclave, residential areas, educational sectors, industrial sectors, commercial
areas, and rural and green areas.
Islamabad is a city, which symbolizes the hopes and dreams of a young and dynamic nation and
espouses the values and codes of the generation that has brought it thus far. It is a city that welcomes
and promotes modern ideas.