The Historic Economic Census of Pakistan: A Milestone with Challenges
For the first time in over twenty years, Pakistan has undertaken a monumental task: conducting a national economic census. With over 7.1 million establishments counted and nearly 40 million structures geo-tagged, this census is being hailed as the largest digitization effort in South Asia. Government officials tout it as a giant leap for the country’s statistical framework. But are these headline figures truly indicative of a solid foundation for policymaking?
The last economic census took place in 2000, leaving policymakers relying on outdated figures. Bilal Gilani, Executive Director of Gallup Pakistan, passionately describes this new census as historic. “After 23 years, we finally have a digital baseline,” he states. This integrated census, linked with the 7th Population and Housing Census of 2023, is seen as both a remarkable achievement and a work in progress.
Despite the scale, the methods behind the data collection raise concerns. Initial classifications included more than 50% of entries labeled as “Others.” The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics turned to AI and machine learning to clean and classify this data, but the results showed significant discrepancies, reflecting the challenges of identification in a diverse country.
What’s Missing?
Crucially, the census overlooked vast sectors of the informal economy. Mobile vendors, street stalls, and freelancers were not counted. As Dr. Lubna Naz, Professor of Economics at IBA, points out, this skews the data, especially regarding women’s contributions to the economy. With nearly half of the household economy categorized as “miscellaneous,” much of it remains unaccounted for.
Additionally, the results exhibit contradictions. For instance, different tables show mismatches in education and health establishments, while some anomalies raise questions about the accuracy of workforce numbers in sectors like mosques.
Innovations and Opportunities
One of the standout features of the 2023 census is geo-tagging nearly 40 million structures. Gilani describes this breakthrough as pivotal for urban planning, creating a mapped network of businesses. However, Dr. Naz cautions that the accuracy of this geo-tagging relies heavily on how well activities are classified.
What’s more, the census lacks key financial and gender-disaggregated data. Understanding income levels and the economic value of household enterprises is crucial for developing effective policies. Without these insights, opportunities for targeted support and growth in emerging sectors may be lost.
The Path Forward
The Economic Census 2023 marks a significant step in providing a framework for Pakistan’s economy, but it also highlights many areas needing improvement. Expert opinions suggest that unless Pakistan commits to regular and enhanced economic censuses, the risks of policy blind spots will continue, especially in sectors that are gaining traction like e-commerce.
In conclusion, while this census is indeed a groundbreaking step forward, its utility hinges on refining and expanding the framework that’s been established. Countries such as India and Bangladesh successfully leverage regular economic censuses to capture insights into growing sectors. For Pakistan, the challenge is not just to celebrate this achievement but also to build upon it for a more accurate and encompassing economic overview.
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