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NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT 50
The decision of 45th meeting of CCI is reproduced as under:
“The CCI decided to approve the Final results of the 6 th Population and Housing
Census, 2017 in the larger national interest. The Decision was taken by majority vote,
in terms of Rule 5(10) of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of Common Interests,
2010, as seven members supported the approval of Final Census Results while the Chief
Minister Sindh opposed it. The CCI directed that the process of next Census should
start as early as possible according to international best practices by using latest
technology.”
2.2 The Digital Census 2023
In compliance to the CCI decision made in its 45th meeting, PBS started preparatory work to
conduct first ever Digital Population and Housing Census in the country . For this purpose,
Government of Pakistan constituted a Census Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising of
renowned demographers and experts to devise recommendations for adoption of International
best practices by using latest technology for the 7 th Population and Housing Census. The
Committee held several meetings and after detailed deliberations finalized the
recommendations to carry out the census “digit ally” with real -time monitoring for broader
acceptability.
The main recommendations of Census Advisory Committee are reproduced as follows.
• Census must be conducted digitally with real -time online monitoring and geo -
tagging of all structures
• Ensure universality: Counting of whole population residing in country at the time
of the census irrespective of its status/ holder of CNIC or not
• De-jure method of enumeration is recommended (person is enumerated at usual
place of residence). This method is the widely used method internationally and used
in all previous censuses in Pakistan.
• Single census questionnaire may be administered which should be strictly in
relevance to the Objectives of Census.
• Law enforcement agencies may be used for security but not for enumeration /
verification.
• Field data collection/monitoring may be carried out by provincial government staff.
Comprehensive trainings and involvement of graduate students in the enumeration
process is recommended.
• Involvement of stakeholders (especially provinces/political parties) from start to
end (Planning to finalization of results)
• Establishment of National Census Coordination Center (N3C) with representation
of provincial governments for effective monitoring, coordination and policy
decisions.
• Effective publicity campaign with effective use of social media for clarity regarding
the primary objective of census which may begin early and extend right up to the
release of the first initial results.
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51 NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT
• Conduct of Pilot Census for checking the whole process and conduct of post enumeration survey for assessing reliability of data and coverage.
Figure 2.2: Glimpses from the Meetings of Census Advisory Committee. The Federal Cabinet in its meeting held on 5 th October, 2021 approved the recommendations of the Census Advisory Committee for forwarding to Council of Common Interest (CCI), with work plan of 18 months to complete the task by December 2022, so that upcoming General Elections of 2023 may be conducted on the basis of the results of the 7th Population & Housing Census. CCI in its 49 th meeting held on 13th January, 2022 approved the recommendations of Census Advisory Committee for conduct of 7th Population and Housing Census, along with Census work plan with timelines, Census Questionnaire, Census Mo nitoring Committee (CMC) and its TORs, as follows.
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Table 2.1: Composition of the Census Monitoring Committee
S.
No.
Designation
Status
1
Deputy Chairman Planning Commission
Chairman
2
Secretary, M/o Planning Development and Special Initiatives
Member
3
Secretary IPCC
Member
4
Secretary, Finance Division
Member
5
Chief Secretaries (Punjab, KP, Sindh, Balochistan, AJ&K, GB)
Member
6
Chief Statistician, PBS
Member
7
Director General (Military Operations Directorate)
Member
8
Chairman, NADRA
Member
9
Sr. Member Board of Revenue, (Punjab, KP, Sindh, Balochistan, AJ&K, GB)
Member
10 Provincial Census Commissioners (Punjab, KP, Sindh, Balochistan,)
Member
11 Census Commissioners, AJ&K, GB
Member
12 Secretary, Local Government Department (Punjab, KP, Sindh, Balochistan,
AJ&K, GB)
Member
13 Secretary, Education Government of (Punjab, KP, Sindh, Balochistan,
AJ&K, GB)
Member
14 Member (Census & Surveys), PBS, Islamabad
Member
15 Member (Support Services), PBS, Islamabad
Member / Secretary
16 Managing Director, NTC
Member
17 Principal information officer/ DG, Press Information Department
Member
18 Chief Commissioner –Islamabad Capital Territory Administration
Member
19 Co-opted member/members with the permission of the Chair
Member
Terms of Reference (TORs) of CMC:
i.
Oversee/ Monitor census activities to ensure an expeditious transparent and credible
census operations.
ii. Supervision of activities to ensure timely support to PBS regarding
−
Availability / Appointment of Census field staff for enumeration /field duties
from the Education, Revenue, Local Government and Population Welfare
Departments by Provincial/ Regional Governments.
−
Nomination/Appointment of Census District Officers/ Other logistic support by
Provincial/ regional governments
−
Policy guidance for appropriate mechanism for enumeration/ monitoring in security
related areas etc.
iii. Monitoring of work of Coordination Committees/ Vigilance Teams at various levels.
iv. Periodic review of progress of Census operations & monitoring of control room
activities.
v.
Supervision and evaluation of Pilot Census and recommendations for roll out of
Census 2022.
vi. Any other action required from time to time.
All key decisions regarding the 7th Population and Housing Census-2023 were made by the
Census Monitoring Committee under the chairmanship of the Minister for Planning,
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53 NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT
Development, and Special Initiatives, who also served as Deputy Chairman of the Planning
Commission. The CMC's decisions included approval of revised census timelines, collection
of data on migrants from Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),
determination of census enumeration methodology, appointment of Provincial Census
Commissioners (PCCs), arrangements for census field security, allocation of the census budget,
special arrangements for census operations in snowbound areas, inclusion of CNIC data in the
census questionnaire, launch of census field enumeration, formation of a Demographers
Committee with provincial representation to analyze census data with abnormal trends,
technical input and forensic audit of census data by NADRA and SUPARCO, conduct of a
fresh census in three districts of Kohistan with a special strategy to prevent over-reporting,
extension of census enumeration time, and conduct of the Post Enumeration Survey from July
8 to July 19, 2023, in line with the best international practices. The detail of the various
meetings of the CMC is provided in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2: Census Monitoring Committee Meetings on Census-2023
CMC
Meetings
Venue
Date
CMC
Meetings
Venue
Date
1st
Islamabad
May 10, 2022
9th
Islamabad
March 22, 2023
2nd
Islamabad
July 26, 2022
10th
Karachi
April 8, 2023
3rd
Islamabad
September 12, 2022
11th
Karachi
April 15, 2023
4th
Islamabad
December 14, 2022
12th
Islamabad
April 28, 2023
5th
Islamabad
January 17, 2023
13th
Islamabad
May 10, 2023
6th
Islamabad
February 21, 2023
14th
Islamabad
May 17, 2023
7th
Islamabad
March 2, 2023
15th
Islamabad
June 7, 2023
8th
Islamabad
March 11, 2023
16th
Islamabad
June 27, 2023
2.2.1 Consultative and Sensitization Process
In the light of the recommendations of Census Advisory Committee, PBS initiated consultative
process and sensitization workshops for planning/preparation for the next Census-2023, details
of which are given in the following sub-sections.
2.2.1.1 Consultative Meetings with Provinces
The Population & Housing Census is crucial national exercise linked with provision of data for
key policy making matters regarding development programs, political representation and
resource allocation which have far reaching impacts. Keeping in view the importance and
sensitivity of matter and decision of CCI “to conduct next census as early possible by using
modern technologies”, the Committee after series of meeting devised recommendations and
strongly proposed that in order to bring transparency, credibility and ownership of whole
census processes, Provinces must be involved from start to end i.e. from planning to
compilation of census results.
The 7th Population and Housing Census online orientation meeting with Chief
Secretaries of all Provinces/regions was held on 13th Aug 2021 under the Chairmanship of
Secretary, Ministry of PDSI. It was decided that physical meetings of PBS teams will be held
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with provincial governments/Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) for detailed deliberations and feedback on recommendations before its finalization for approval from the appropriate forum. In pursuance of the decisions of the above meeting, six meetings with provinces have been conducted. These meetings are a remarkable step towards confidence building of stakeholders/provinces which will be helpful in gaining the support of provinces during census process and acceptability of census results. Detail of the meetings is given in Table 2.3. Table 2.3: Consultative meetings with provinces on Census-2023 Province Date Main Decisions Punjab 6th Sep. 2021 • The census questionnaire will be shared with stakeholders/departments and finalized after feedback. • All provincial departments will extend their support/cooperation to the PBS in conducting the Census-2022. Sindh 8th Sep. 2021 • Census questionnaire and informative videos would be translated into regional languages. • Bureau of Statistics Sindh will be engaged in the upcoming census and will be given representation in the technical committees. • Comprehensive recommendations from the province will be shared with PBS after consultation with political leadership. Balochistan 10th Sep. 2021 • Assured full support in terms of provision of field staff and administrative arrangements for successful conduct of census. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 13th Sep. 2021 • PBS assured that all the feedback regarding the process and tools will be incorporated in the recommendations after completion of all consultations. Gilgit Baltistan 16th Sep. 2021 • It is recommended that all stakeholders must be consulted on relevant matters. • District administration may be taken on board and part of committees for coordination. The PBS team presented the detail regarding the broader recommendation of the Census Advisory Committee with clear road map and timelines to complete the process. It was informed that as per directions of the CCI, the upcoming Census will be the first ever “Digital Census” of Pakistan, the detailed methodology and use of modern technology was explained and highlighted the role of provinces in the field of data collection and monitoring process. It was informed that all the feedback regarding process and the tools will be incorporated in the recommendations after completion of all consultations before final approval.
After completion of consultative meetings, PBS started sensitization workshops at provincial headquarters in universities by inviting statisticians, demographers, academia, researchers and students etc., to involve the public at the planning and preparatory stag of the digital census.
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Punjab: 6th September, 2021 Sindh: 8th September, 2021
Balochistan: 10th September, 2021 KP: 13th September, 2021 Figure 2.3: Consultative Meetings with Provinces 2.2.1.2 Sensitization Workshops with Stakeholders Keeping in view the challenging timelines of activities of the first–ever digital census, the worthy Minister for PDSI during a review committee meeting held on 26th November, 2021, emphasized on the prior sensitization of the forthcoming Population and Housing Census, first ever digital census, to improve the role of stakeholders as well as public through the conduct of workshops/seminars throughout the country. In this regard PBS decided to conduct Sensitization workshops at provincial level to bring awareness about the census process among the masses and to avoid the trust deficit by engaging academia, universities, researchers, demographers, data users, NGOs and other stakeholders. Six sensitization workshops were conducted at six cities as per the below detail: Table 2.4: Sensitization workshops with stakeholders Sensitization workshops Venue Date 1st Islamabad December 24, 2021 2nd Lahore December 28, 2021 3rd Karachi December 30, 2021 4th Peshawar January 5, 2022 5th Muzaffarabad January 10, 2022 6th Quetta January 30, 2022
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Figure 2.4: Sensitization Workshops at Provincial/ Regional Headquarters
Consultative process, sensitization workshops and preparatory process for Census-2022 were
going side by the PBS. Therefore, the requirements for digital census were studied through
research process and consultations.
2.2.1.3 Sensitization Workshops with Government Functionaries
In pursuance of the decision of Council of Common Interest (CCI) and on direction of Minister
for PDSI in the meeting held on 19 th May, 2022 with chief ministers and provincial
governments, a third round of sensitization process was started w.e.f 23 rd May, 2022 and
workshops were held by the PBS team at all provincial/ regional headquarters . The primary
objective of the workshops was to explain about the roles and responsibility of provincial/
district administration regarding the conduct of Census-2022. Therefore, the relevant
Islamabad: 24th December, 2021 Punjab: 28th December, 2021
Sindh: 30th December, 2021 KP: 5th January, 2022
AJK: 10th January, 2022 Balochistan: 30th January, 2022